The Häagen-Dazs brand is helping to change the way ingredients are grown to better support bee populations by working hand-in-hand with its farmer suppliers. The internationally-recognized ice cream brand has installed one of the largest, privately funded pollinator habitats on the farmland of its almond supplier in California’s Central Valley. No stranger to helping the bees, the brand aims to impact additional ingredients used throughout its super-premium ice cream portfolio and positively influence sustainable agriculture practices.
The “Häagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees” program launched in 2008, and today is expanding from research and educational funding to hands-on initiatives that will rejuvenate pollinator habitats to allow native bees to flourish. Located in Chowchilla, California, the habitat consists of six and a half miles of hedgerow and 11,000 native drought-tolerant shrubs and flowering plants, impacting 840 acres of farmland. In order to supply what pollinators need, the Häagen-Dazs brand worked with expert agronomists and the Xerces Society to maximize the impact of the habitat by choosing regional plants that are attractive to pollinators. Looking forward, the team will work to create custom habitats for more of its ingredient suppliers who depend on bees to pollinate their crops.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8075051-haagen-dazs-sustainable-agriculture-bees-pollinator-habitats/
General Mills announced today that by the end of 2020, oat farms that supply oats for Honey Nut Cheerios will host approximately 3,300 total acres of dedicated flower-rich pollinator habitat. It takes about 60,000 acres of oats to make Honey Nut Cheerios products each year. More than two thirds of the crops used to feed people, accounting for 90 percent of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees.1 Flower-rich habitat is critical in helping maintain the nutritional health of bees and the continued supply of crops that we depend on for food. Without bees and other pollinators, food as we know it would be forever changed.
Bees have experienced an unprecedented scale of habitat loss with more than 9 million acres of grass and prairie land converted to crop land since 2008.2 Although Honey Nut Cheerios famous spokesbee, Buzz Bee, and his honey bee friends may not be in danger of extinction like some other pollinators, in the interest of protecting our food supply, Honey Nut Cheerios is committed to helping all pollinators thrive through the planting of these habitats.
“Pollinator habitats are one of the most effective solutions in ensuring bees get the daily nutrition they need,” said Dr. Marla Spivak, a world-renowned bee scholar at the University of Minnesota who has been collaborating with General Mills on this initiative. “Every day, 4,000 species of North American bees are traveling from flower to flower, shopping for the variety of good nutrition they need in order to thrive. My hope is this partnership between farmers, the Xerces Society and General Mills will not only beautify the North American countryside with vibrant wildflowers, but also help the bees we all rely on so much get back on their own six feet!”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7803951-honey-nut-cheerios-pollinators/
Knoxville Zoo is now Zoo Knoxville, emphasizing its commitment to animals first and foremost. The new brand for East Tennessee’s beloved destination attraction is an expression of its core values: wildly fun on the outside, serious about animals on the inside. The launch of the zoo’s new brand is the culmination of extensive market research and reflects the nonprofit organization’s focus on delivering dynamic guest experiences while inspiring action for wildlife and wild places.
“We deliver an unforgettable guest experience. We’re wildly fun,” said Lisa New, president and CEO. “Zoo visitors love connecting with magnificent animals in natural habitats and enjoying facilitated fun. It’s about making lifetime memories with your kids.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7754151-knoxville-zoo-rebranding/
Beginning this Earth Day (April 22), Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) will no longer carry red-rated, wild-caught fish in its seafood departments. The move, which comes one year ahead of the company’s self-imposed deadline of Earth Day 2013, makes Whole Foods Market the first national grocer to stop selling red-rated seafood.
A red rating indicates that a species is suffering from overfishing or that current fishing methods harm other marine life or habitats; the ratings are determined by nonprofit research organizations Blue Ocean Institute and Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Blue Ocean Institute and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s green or “Best Choice” ratings mean species are abundant and are caught in environmentally friendly ways; yellow or “Good Alternative” ratings indicate some concerns with the species’ status or catch methods.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49713-sustainable-seafood-whole-foods-eliminates-red-rated-wild-caught-fish
Bird enthusiasts and aficionados seek to attract the unique birds of their region to their own backyards. The experts at Scotts know wild bird species living in, and migrating to different geographic regions have very specific nutritional needs. Based on this research, Scotts ornithologists and avian nutritionists developed Scotts® Songbird Selections® Regional Bird Blends.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/41660-Scotts-Songbird-Selections-Wild-Bird-Food/
