Hurricane Beryl stormed through the Caribbean last month, devastating multiple islands in its wake and impacting agricultural operations in the process. Natural foliage was also heavily impacted, putting important pollinators at risk of starvation. We’re working to provide beekeepers emergency feed to keep their remaining colonies alive, and you can help us.

Beryl, which topped out as a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 165 miles per hour, caused heavy rains, storm surge, and damaging winds. Seven people were killed in the Caribbean when it passed through, while the majority of buildings on several islands within the nations of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were destroyed. Thousands have also been left homeless and hundreds of thousands have experienced power outages due to the storm.

As in past natural disasters, GreaterGood has teamed up with Greater Good Charities and Mann Lake Bee and Ag Supply, the largest global supply house for honey bees, to support beekeepers in areas impacted. This partnership has helped after incidents like Hurricane Ian and severe flooding in California. The goal is to ensure bee colonies that have survived the storm are able to eat, using pallets of bee pollen substitute shipped to areas most impacted.

For Hurricane Beryl, focus areas include Jamaica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados. These countries export a variety of agricultural products. Unfortunately, Jamaica – which exports food like fruits, cocoa, and coffee, all of which rely on bee pollination – has suffered an estimated $6.4 million crop loss due to the storm. Fruits were among the crops most impacted.

Emergency bee feed will keep colonies alive while beekeepers focus on other losses and damages caused by the storm, possibly including their homes, and ensure a strong pollination resource remains for the countries’ agricultural producers.

Pollinators like bees are essential to the production of more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables we eat, and about 35% of our crops. They do this with the aid of their keepers, who transport them between producers. With your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and donations, you’ve helped us provide emergency aid for bees in need. If you’d like to continue to help, this time in the Caribbean, click below!