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Why California Almonds Need North Dakota Flowers (And A Few Billion Bees)

Almond trees rely on bees to pollinate during their brief bloom for a few weeks in February. Winfried Rothermel/APN hide caption

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Winfried Rothermel/APN

The Salt

Why California Almonds Need North Dakota Flowers (And A Few Billion Bees)

This month, the bees from 1.6 million hives — many of them trucked in commercially from as far away as North Dakota — will pollinate California's almond orchards. Then beekeepers will pack up their colonies and drive them back to the northern Plains, where bees can graze for the summer. But scientists says that floral feast in the Great Plains is shrinking because of high corn prices.

Why California Almonds Need North Dakota Flowers (And A Few Billion Bees)

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When Taking The Pollen Out Of Honey Might Make A Sticky Mess

A report says that pollen is often filtered out of honey sold in the U.S., which could make it hard to determine if the honey came from a safe place. Ellen Webber/NPR hide caption

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Ellen Webber/NPR

The Salt

When Taking The Pollen Out Of Honey Might Make A Sticky Mess

American consumers like their honey bright and clear, but removing the pollen makes it hard to trace honey back to its source. A new report says three quarters of honey sold in the U.S. doesn't contain any pollen.