Informative
Would We Starve Without Bees? 0
“To the bee, a flower is the foundation of life, and to the flower, the bee is a messenger of love.” Kahlil Gibran.1 Would we starve without bees? Do you ever think about where the food we eat comes from?Bees are hardworking creatures with a laborious work ethic. They play a vital role in sustaining the world’s ecosystem.1 They pollinate around 84% of crops that are grown for human consumption. These crops rely on pollination to increase the yields and quality. These include fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, coffee, sunflowers, and tea.2
Their contribution to the ecosystem is invaluable. Animals feed on fruits and berries from the plants pollinated by bees. More so, humans feed on the same plants, and the animals as well. Therefore, bees deserve the title, “guardians of the world’s food chain and biodiversity of our species.”3
A symbiotic relationship
Bees need the flowers for food while the flowers depend on the bees for reproduction.4 Nectar and pollen from flowering plants are the only sources of food for the bees. Nectar gives energy while pollen is rich in protein.2
During this process of searching for food, the bees get covered in pollen from the male part of the flower, the stamen, and the deposit on the female part, the stigma, of the next flower that they visit.1
They carry balls of pollen on their back legs which collect on the pollen baskets that they go back with to the hive to feed their young ones after fertilizing the flowers.2
Born to do it
Bees do their work dutifully, and they are excellent at it. They were created for it. They have stiff hairs and pockets on their legs that allow them to collect more pollen. This also helps to efficiently transport it from one part to another or one plant to another. 2
Bees tend to visit the flowers on the same plant rather than move from one plant to another. Bees focus their energies on one species of a plant at a time.1 This ensures that higher quality pollination takes place rather than distributing different pollen to other plants.5
Bumble bees are more successful, because they have bigger and have more vigorous vibrations. This helps to disperse the pollen to the flowers it visits.3
Importance of pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the flower, from which then a seed is formed.2 Once the pollen is deposited on the stigma, it moves down to the ovary and fertilizes and forms a seed. The seed will then grow into a vegetable or a fruit.4 Think about the apple tree that blossoms into many apples - all because of fertilization.
Provides a source of food
It might surprise you that a third of our food is dependent on pollination.2 Bees play a significant role in the food we eat directly through pollination. Although some plants rely on wind for cross-pollination, while others rely on animals, other insects, or birds, most rely on bees for pollination.1
Without pollination, seeds won’t form and thus we won’t have the food supply. Pollination isn’t just important for the food we eat, but also is key for crops, such as field beans and clover, which livestock depends on for food, which we depend on for meat.
More so, pollination maintains the genetic diversity of flowering plants. Flowers that are visited often produce larger and more uniform fruit compared to the less visited ones.4 Without the bees, we wouldn’t have our freeze dried broccoli, blueberries, or apples and a majority of other products.
And that’s not all.
Bees provide us honey and wax. Honey is formed using nectar. They regurgitate it and pass it back and forth in their mouths to one another, then deposit it, and seal in a honeycomb. Bees store honey in their hives as their winter food stores.3
Honey contributes to 400 million pounds in the UK.3 Also, it was valued at $317.1 million in 2013 in the US.2
Beautify the world
Through pollination, the floral landscapes are made beautiful and provide attractive homes to other insects and birds.5 Plants attract bees by their bright colors: open or flat flowers that have lots of pollen and nectar.
Honey bee shortage threatens crop pollination
In the past, farmers relied on wild bees for pollination. However, their population is on the decline at an alarming rate, because of extreme weather conditions, use of pesticides, disease, and loss of habitat climate change.4 Now farmers have to buy commercially bred bumble bees and put them on their land hoping that they would pollinate their crops. It is expensive and can spread disease.5 As Albert Einstein said, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years to live.”2
There is a great urgency to restore our ecosystem and create landscapes that support diverse flora and fauna as man’s survival is linked to bees. Looking at how important bees are for our survival, what would we do without them?
|
|
|
|---|
References
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/17/why-are-bees-important
- https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-bees-are-important-to-our-planet/
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zg4dwmn
- https://bees.techno-science.ca/english/bees/pollination/default.php
- https://www.kew.org/blogs/in-the-gardens/the-importance-of-bees-as-pollinators
Would we starve without bees? 0
Do you ever think about where the food we eat comes from?
Bees are hardworking creatures with a laborious work ethic. They play a vital role in sustaining the world’s ecosystem. They pollinate around 84% of crops that are grown for human consumption. These crops rely on pollination to increase the yields and quality. These include fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, coffee, sunflowers, and tea.
What You Need to Know about Cinco de Mayo 0
Cinco de Mayo is here again. It is celebrated every 5th of May in the United States - chance to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage, and an opportunity for some people to indulge in margaritas. But ever wondered how it came about or what it is?
Freeze Dried & Dehydrated Foods Are the Food of the Future: Interview with Chef Brian Meerbott 0
Food equals life. For Brian Meerbott, the culinary mastermind behind Mother Earth Products' delicious recipes, there's a good explanation for that: "At it’s best, food is the centerpiece of family gatherings, the glue that brings and holds people together over a shared experience," he expounds. Food is so much more than a way to satiate our hunger.Meerbott, a military man turned chef, served in the US Navy for almost 20 years until he pursued his true calling: cooking. “It started out as an outlet I used to relieve stress while I was serving in the US Navy,” he confesses. “I would come home after a long day of work from a job that I didn't love and realize that cooking allowed me to forget about the stress of the day.” According to experts(1), cooking helps prevent a variety of mental disorders, such as anxiety, lack of focus, and even depression.
Along with his love for anything food related, Meerbott discovered the endless possibilities of cooking with freeze dried (FD) and dehydrated (D) foods. We decided sit down and pick his brain about everything: from the way he sees food to the delicious bite-sized delicacies with a longer shelf life.
His thoughts? It turns out that freeze dried and dehydrated foods ARE the food of the future. After all, cooking is all about trying out new ingredients, and freeze dried and dehydrated foods by Mother Earth Products are no exception.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Contrary to popular belief, happiness is not circumstantial. There's no point in waiting for everything to be perfect to feel happy with yourself. That's exactly how Meerbott realized that being a retired military man was not the end, but the beginning in his pursuit of happiness.
“It was a rewarding job; it served its purpose, but something was keeping me from being happy and fulfilled,” he claims. “Cooking was just the opposite; I loved it. I am so comfortable in a kitchen that it doesn't feel like work; it's fun.” By connecting with his inner chef, Meerbott managed to find happiness, and now he's ready to share his love for cooking - with a little help from Mother Earth Products.
It's All About The Senses
While taste is usually the one sense we rely on to judge whether certain foods are worth our time, eating is a much more sophisticated experience. According to Meerbott, we use all our senses when eating, even if we don't mean to. From seeing(2) and smelling to touching and hearing(3), every sense brings something different to the table, shaping each meal into a holistic experience.
Meerbott stresses on how much the looks of a dish may keep us from enjoying food to the fullest these days. “Most people aren't willing to try something they have never had before if it looks like garbage, but it may be the best thing they have ever eaten,” he says, reminding us that we should never judge food solely based on the way it looks.
Take freeze dried and dehydrated foods, for example. Not only do they taste amazing, but they also carry as many nutrients as their fresh counterparts. What's the lesson behind Meerbott's words? No sense alone is capable of determining whether certain foods are tasty or not.
Freeze Dried & Dehydrated Foods Are the Food of the Future
As consumers become aware of the planet's rapidly changing food supply, a lot of questions arise. As a result, factors, such as safety and convenience, climb to the top of the consumers' priority list and for a good reason. With these priorities in mind, Mother Earth Products embarked on a mission to supply consumers with foods that not only are safe to eat, but also have a long shelf life and cater their needs for convenient food.
Impressed by the team's passion for fruits and vegetables with longer shelf life, Meerbott decided to become part of this food-loving family and joined the ranks of Mother Earth Products doing what he does best - cooking. Even though it wasn't the food but the team's zeal that drew him in the first place, he came to realize the real value of freeze dried and dehydrated food.
“Freeze dried and dried fruit and vegetables are products of the future,” he concludes. “The rising demand for food products with longer shelf life, combined with the increasing demand for seasonal products throughout the year, supports the growth of the dehydrated food market.” So, the real question is: Are you ready to become part of this nutrient-dense food evolution?
Meerbott proves to us that with every twist and turn, something greater and more exciting may come along. “Mother Earth Products has been a major part of my personal growth and professional development,” he admits, and we couldn't be more grateful.
References:
How to Make Freeze Dried Food Even More Appetizing 0
There are so many reasons to fall in love with freeze dried and dehydrated food. For one, you don't ever have to worry about produce going bad. Just think of all the food (and money) you've tossed in the trash over the years, and you'll get our point. But, wait, there's more.Freeze dried food (FDF) also allows you to enjoy the flavors of your favorite fruits and vegetables as if they are fresh out of the farmer's market. Plus, most of the nutrients remain intact, delivering the same health benefits as their fresh counterparts.
However, longtime freeze dried food fans know there's nothing wrong with adding some flavor to the mix. A little more seasoning and out-of-the-box cooking never hurt anyone, right? So, here are five game-changing ways to make freeze dried food even more appetizing.
Blaze Your Own Trail... Mix
Despite containing just a small percentage of water, freeze dried foods can still rock your palate in the easiest way possible. And, in this case, adding water is so last season. If you don't know it by now, freeze dried food can be consumed as is, requiring zero cooking skills and barely a second of your time.
In fact, the texture of freeze dried foods is easy-to-chew and crunchy, reminding you of crunchy candies rather than dehydrated food. Plus, the flavors are the same as if you were nibbling on fresh fruit and vegetables. However, we've got a way to up the stakes flavor-wise, and it involves you, a handful of nuts and your favorite freeze dried bites.
You've probably heard the news: Trail mix is going through a healthy renaissance of sorts. This once-fattening snack can now contain all the right ingredients, from energy-boosting fruit to fiber-rich nuts. Want to keep up with the trend? Then, start mixing and matching your favorite nuts, seeds, and freeze dried fruit by Mother Earth Products and (why not?) some treat-like goodies, such as dark chocolate chips or mini marshmallows. And as always, moderation is key.
Sauté Spices for An Instant Flavor Boost
If you want to take your dishes to the next level, then spices are the way to go and freeze dried vegetables are no exception. With that in mind, we're about to let you in on a little secret: Did you know that you can infuse your food with the pungent flavor of spices while sautéing?
Contrary to popular belief, you can actually sauté freeze dried food. Just heat some oil and cook the product as-is (no water needed) along with the spices for about 30 seconds. This way: not only do you save time, but you also enhance the flavor of the food from the get-go. Just make sure you add water as soon as you are done sautéing to avoid burning. It's high time you dusted off that spice rack, don't you think?
Hydration is Key
Add water first; ask questions later. Unfortunately, this is the way a lot of people approach freeze dried food hydration, only to end up with a soggy pile of products. Luckily, it doesn't have to be that way.
To keep the flavors intact, simply add the food you are about to eat in a clear bowl and add water. How much water is enough? There are two ways to determine that. Either the food will start floating, or the water will start pooling at the bottom of the bowl. So, don't get surprised if hydrating freeze dried food may require less water than you initially thought.
Dip Them in Chocolate
Eating healthy is on top of most people's bucket list. But, what's a chocoholic to do when the hunger for this delicious treat strikes? An ingenious way to mitigate the not-so-healthy effects of chocolate on your health and waist is to add freeze dried fruit to the mix. In fact, use this tasty treat to coat a variety of freeze dried superfoods by Mother Earth Products, from the potassium-rich bananas to the fiber-packed apples. Isn't that sweet?
Sneak Them Into Baked Goods
What's not to like about freeze dried foods? They are affordable, contain lots of nutrients, and they taste just like the real deal (and sometimes even better if you have an issue with the texture of fresh fruit and vegetables). But, here's an excellent way to enjoy their rich flavor to the fullest while making your meals taste even better: sneak them into your baked goods.
Whether you're in the mood for a fruity biscuit or want to sweeten your homemade cakes in the healthiest way possible, FDF makes for an excellent and nutrient-dense ingredient. In fact, due to their low concentration in water, freeze dried fruits and vegetables by Mother Earth Products don't interfere with the consistency of your baked goods, but instead, add to their delicious flavor.
The Takeaway
Eating tasty meals when there's enough time to cook is amazing. But, eating super healthy and delicious meals/snacks day in day out is even better. Now, there is a way. All it takes is these five suggestions and a handful of freeze dried foods from Mother Earth Products. Are you ready to give your everyday meals/snacks a makeover?
