ABOUT THE ORCHARD BEE ASSOCIATION

WHO WE ARE: The Orchard Bee Association (OBA) was started in 2011 by a team of independent businesses, orchard managers, and researchers to accelerate the production and use of orchard mason bees (specifically, Osmia lignaria, O. cornifrons, O. cornuta, and O. rufa) in various spring crops and orchards. We encourage a role of stewardship, preservation, and enhancement of orchard bee populations as well as responsible wild bee management practices to preserve local genetic stock of bees with respect to elevation, climate, and local flora. In 2014, OBA became a legally recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit professional society governed by a board of members.

WHAT WE DO: OBA has an annual meeting for members to present orchard bee research, exchange ideas and concepts, and to discuss organizational affairs. Another goal of the annual meeting is to promoting international collaboration. Our website aims to provide resources to members and to the public to facilitate educational awareness to the general public about orchard bees. As a tool to implement sustainable practices within the orchard bee industry, OBA has recently developed a process for certifying sustainably sourced and managed bees or bee vendors. To learn more, visit our CERTIFICATION page.

HOW WE GOT STARTED: In December of 2011, a team of independent businesses, orchard managers, and members of both science and academia officially formed a professional organization called the Orchard Bee Association (OBA). The meeting took place in Modesto, California. This new association was a result of a successful technology transfer originating from Almond Board Funded 2009 and 2010 Blue Orchard Bee Workshops, that were organized and delivered by USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit scientists Jim Cane, Theresa Pitts-Singer, Glen Trostle, and Derek Artz under the direction of Research Leader Rosalind James and with the collaboration of Carolyn Pickel and Sara Goldman-Smith of University of California Extension. They and their technical teams have been unbelievably helpful with providing great advice, sound research, and thoughtful proposals. We continue to support their efforts in any capacity, and encourage new researchers and graduate students who are interested in developing the orchard bee industry.

OrchardBee.org will provide an internal and external web presence to assist and promote international collaboration on best practices for sourcing and managing orchard bees.

If you’re interested in joining our organization, please visit the JOIN OBA page. All are welcome!