Puyallup was the second city in the state of Washington to receive an official "Bee City" designation from Bee City USA, a not-for-profit organization committed to developing and maintaining sustainable habitats for pollinators such as native bees and honey bees.
Crops in the Puyallup Valley such as berries, pumpkins, tomatoes and apples are produced in part with the natural pollination activity of bees. By receiving a Bee City designation, Puyallup will help further a healthy and vibrant ecosystem and food supply system, which in turn will benefit our local and regional economies.
The purpose of becoming a Bee City is to support and encourage bee-friendly habitat creation and enhancement on both public and private land.
“Whether it’s honey, bumble or Mason bees, these small, hardworking insects impact our lives daily,” said Puyallup City Councilmember Heather Shadko. “Smell a flower, eat a piece of fruit or have some honey; a bee helped create these and they need our help to continue their work.
“Becoming a Bee City will be a great way for our community to support not just bees but all pollinators. It promotes education, gives us the opportunity to create sustainable habitat, and allows us to celebrate these remarkable pollinators. I am so excited that Puyallup is taking the steps to become an engaged and healthy environment for these amazing little creatures who give so much back to us.”
The 250-member Pierce County Beekeepers Association assisted the city in pursuing the Bee City designation.
“The City Council is showing leadership in their support of pollinator health and its importance to robust land systems and agriculture,” said Franclyn Heinecke, president of the Pierce County Beekeepers Association. “The City is already doing a lot to benefit pollinators, and we see those efforts only increasing in the future. We are encouraged by this action, and look forward to working together on this important initiative.”