You may have heard in the media that many people are talking about the ethics of eating almonds and avocados, along with a few other ‘plant-based foods’.

This is to do with industrial farming methods (that kill bees in their billions in North America) by not protecting the wildlife habitats of bees, during and after harvesting.

Above is a recipe for vegan almond cake (Rainbow Nourishments) which is fine, if you use sustainably-sourced nuts.

Avoid nuts for young children and allergies, and keep away from pets. Read more on food safety for people & pets.

Most almonds sold in the world are farmed in California, where they use a colossal amount of water, in a state prone to drought.

Corporate farms use pesticides that lead to monoculture orchards, so bees get sick (more bees die in the US, than animals and fish slaughtered for food).

The Bee Better Certified program gives consumers the choice to buy almonds that are grown/produced by companies that are inspected & certified (a bit like our Soil Association), to ensure pollinator-friendly practices.

Another option is to simply buy almonds from Europe, that are not farmed in the same harmful manner. Forest Wholefoods sell organic Italian almonds (recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins). , if your kerbside does not recycle).

You can also buy heat-treated blanched organic almonds (grind to make almond flour). Or buy organic blanched almond flour.

For almond milk, Devon’s ReRooted Almond Milk (sold in returnable glass bottles) uses almonds from Italy or Spain, depending on season.

If you grow organic almond trees, read how to make gardens safe for pets (many nut and fruit trees are unsafe near horses). 

A Recipe for Vegan Almond Croissant Bars

This recipe for vegan almond croissant bars (Rainbow Nourishments) gives all the taste of a breakfast croissant, but are far easier to make! You’ll need flour, plant milk, coconut oil and maple syrup, plus almond meal and pure almond extract.

Bee-Friendly Almonds: How to Support Pollinators With Every Purchase

Bees keep turning up in our everyday food, even when we don’t notice. That spoon of almond butter, the splash of almond milk, the handful of almonds in your baking, all have a quiet link to pollinators.

Almonds depend heavily on bees to set a good crop. However, not all almond farming supports bee health in the same way. Some orchards provide food and shelter beyond the brief blossom, while others sit in a sea of bare soil and short-lived flowers.

This guide explains what bee-friendly almonds can mean in practice, what to look for when you shop in the UK, and a few simple actions that help pollinators without guilt trips.

How almonds and bees depend on each other

Almond trees need pollen moved between flowers. In nature, insects do that job while they forage. In an orchard, the scale is huge, so the need for pollination becomes intense and time-sensitive.

When it goes well, bees get a burst of early-season food and growers get a strong set of nuts. When it goes poorly, bees face stress at the exact moment they should be building strength for spring. The challenge isn’t that almonds are “bad”, it’s that the system has trade-offs, and some farms manage those trade-offs better than others.

A guide to pollination and almond blossom

Almond blossom arrives in a short window, often over just a few weeks. Each flower needs pollen to reach it, usually from a different tree variety nearby. Bees visit blossoms for nectar and pollen, and as they move, pollen grains rub off onto other flowers.

If enough flowers get pollinated, the tree sets more nuts. If not, the yield drops. That’s why many orchards bring in managed honey bee hives during bloom. It’s like hiring an army of tiny couriers when every delivery has a deadline.

Wild pollinators matter too. Where farms keep hedgerows, flowering margins, and nesting spots, wild bees can add extra pollination. They also spread the workload, which helps when weather turns cold, wet, or windy.

Pressures on bees at large-scale orchards

A mass of almond blossom looks like a feast, but it can be a short one. Before and after bloom, bees still need varied food. Without it, colonies can struggle to build up, and wild bees may not stick around at all.

A few pressures often stack up:

• Limited forage variety: One crop means one main bloom, then little else nearby.
• Spray risk around flowering: Some pest control choices and timing can expose bees.
• Long-distance hive travel: Moving hives can add stress, especially over repeated seasons.
• Parasites and disease: Varroa mites and viruses can weaken honey bee colonies.
• Few nesting options: Wild bees need bare soil, stems, and undisturbed corners.

Many growers and beekeepers are working on fixes because healthy bees are in everyone’s interests. Better forage, smarter spray timing, and more habitat can reduce pressure without pretending farming has no constraints.

If you remember one thing, it’s this: bees don’t just need flowers, they need flowers for longer than a fortnight.

What “bee-friendly almonds” look like on farms

Cover crops can include clover, vetch, and mixed wildflowers. These plants feed bees before blossom, then keep feeding them afterwards, depending on the mix and the mowing schedule. Hedgerows and field margins add more sources of nectar and pollen, plus shelter from wind.

Variety matters. A single cover crop can help, yet a mixed planting is closer to what bees need. Different plants flower at different times, so the “menu” lasts longer. This supports honey bees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, not just one type of pollinator.

Even small corridors between blocks of trees can make a difference. They help wild bees move through the orchard and find nesting areas, especially when the wider area has less natural habitat.

Healthier hives and happier wild bees 

Bees need water, especially when colonies are growing fast. Bee-supportive farms often provide clean water sources so bees don’t have to hunt around ditches or puddles. Shade and shelter also matter, because hives can overheat in direct sun.

On the ground, mowing and soil work can either help or harm. If a farm mows every flowering strip at once, it removes food overnight. Staggered mowing keeps some flowers available. Reducing dust can help too, because dust can coat flowers and make foraging harder.

Close co-operation with beekeepers is another sign of a bee-aware farm. Hive placement, access for checks, and agreed spray plans all reduce surprises. Meanwhile, wild bees need nesting spots, such as patches of bare soil, hollow stems, and old wood. Leaving some rough edges can be a gift, not a mess.

How to buy almonds that helps pollinators

Stronger signals usually look like transparency. For example, a brand might name where it sources almonds, publish a pesticide policy, or describe habitat commitments such as cover crops and hedgerows. Some third-party certifications include biodiversity and farm management standards, although not all schemes focus on pollinators in detail.

If a claim sounds fluffy, check the brand’s website. Look for plain statements about farming practices, measurable goals, and updates over time. If you can’t find anything beyond marketing, treat the claim as unproven.

• Buy from transparent brands that explain how growers protect bees and habitat.
• Waste less by storing almonds well and using what you buy (stale nuts help nobody).
• Vary your nuts and seeds (hazelnuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds), so demand isn’t all on one crop.