When the fruit trees begin to blossom in the spring in southern Spain, our hearts always open up. Whole regions of the country are then dressed in white and shades of pink. In this enchanting springtime, we rely on a lot of helpers on our plantations: Bees. Because only when the “furry” little insects fly busily from flower to flower to collect pollen for their offspring, can they pollinate the flowers so that fruit can form afterwards.
No bees, no fruit! That’s why we naturally do everything we can to make the little buzzers feel perfectly comfortable in all our fields. That’s why we only employ beekeepers who lovingly take care of the little fellows. They set up beehives and also look for new queens, so that new bee colonies can be created.
And as soon as our trees are in bloom, we only use biological substances, if necessary. These are completely harmless to the insects. And all these products are registered and therefore legally permitted. We also treat the trees only at night so as not to disturb the busy bees collecting pollen.
The bees also really feel at home in our strawberry fields and busily collect strawberry flower pollen. In our tunnel cultivation, for example, we have put up color markings so that the insects can find their way back outside to their hives.
But there is one thing bees don’t like at all – and that’s wetness! When it rains, the insects quickly crawl into their hives and only come out when the sun warms them. So, of course, it is bad when it rains during the flowering season. Especially when the flowering period is very short, such as with apricots. But we are also well prepared for such cases.
Our farm manager Paco Lopez from our citrus and apricot farm in Murcia, for example, always has the weather forecast in mind and something sweet up his sleeve. “As soon as I know that rain is imminent, I spray the trees with sugar. Then, before the rain comes, a lot of bees come out of their hives. There’s a buzzing sound in the trees and it’s amazing!”
We also think it’ amazing. Because every pollinated blossom is a deliciously flavorful fruit after many warm hours of sunshine. Thank you, dear bees!
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