<p>Whole Foods Market has performed a little produce experiment in its University Heights location. One of every three bites of food comes from plants pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators, according to a press release. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>To raise awareness of just how crucial pollinators are to our food system, Whole Foods temporarily removed all produce that comes from plants dependent on pollinators. Huge declines in bee populations threaten the availability of many fresh ingredients. The company pulled 52 percent of the department's normal product mix from 237 shelves amounting in about 453 products.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/wholefoods061313body.jpg" alt="images 061213" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Products included in the mix were: Apples, Onions, Avocados, Carrots, Mangos, Lemons, Limes, Honeydew, Cantaloupe, Zucchini, Summer squash, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Celery, Green onions, Cauliflower, Leeks, Bok choy, Kale, Broccoli, Broccoli rabe, and Mustard greens.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"Pollinators are a critical link in our food system. More than 85% of earth's plant species – many of which compose some of the most nutritional parts of our diet – require pollinators to exist. Yet we continue to see alarming declines in bee numbers," said Eric Mader, assistant pollinator conservation director at The Xerces Society. "Our organization works with farmers nationwide to help them create wildflower habitat and adopt less pesticide-intensive practices. These simple strategies can tip the balance back in favor of bees."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>For every pound of organic summer squash sold at Whole Foods Market stores from June 12-25 the company will donate 10 cents to The Xerces Society for pollinator preservation, to help the effort.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Share the buzz.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/sharethebuzz" target="_new"> Whole Foods </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
