Support Australian bees and beekeepers with a Great Bee Morning Tea

Australia’s morning tea tables will turn golden as communities across Australia celebrate the essential role bees and beekeepers play in food production, biodiversity and ecosystem health.  

The Great Bee Morning Tea held by the Wheen Bee Foundation for World Bee Day on Wednesday, 20 May is a way to come together and hold a morning tea with treats made with pure Australian honey.  

Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers says the Great Bee Morning Tea encourages people to understand the important contributions bees and beekeepers make to Australian agriculture and food security.  

“Many people still don’t understand the link between pollination and the food on our plates,” Ms Chambers said.  

“At least 53 crops in Australia rely on insect pollination, including almonds, macadamias, avocados, apples, pears, berries, stone fruit, vegetables and canola,” Ms Chambers says.  

The threats to bees and other pollinators are well documented, with pests and diseases, habitat loss and reduced floral resources all having a negative impact.   

Meanwhile, beekeepers face increasing pressures from rising costs in managing pest and disease, severe weather events including bushfires, floods and droughts, and decreasing prices received for their honey, driven in part by competition from cheaper imported honeys.  

Businesses, schools and community organisations are encouraged to host a Great Bee Morning Tea filled with treats made with pure Australian honey to help support Australian beekeepers and their practices. 

“Hosting a Great Bee Morning Tea is all about enjoying treats made with 100% Australian honey while supporting our bees and beekeepers,” Ms Chambers said. 

When choosing the right honey, it is important to look for the Australian Country of Origin logo that clearly states the product is 100% Australian honey and look out for vague labels like ‘packaged from local and imported ingredients’.  

Event organisers are encouraged to raise awareness and funds for the Wheen Bee Foundation, to help contribute to delivering programs and research projects to overcome the national and global threat to bees and other pollinators.  

Find out more about the Great Bee Morning Tea at wheenbeefoundation.org.au/gbmt