Bees: The Unsung Heroes of Blueberry Production at Selby

If you’ve enjoyed a Selby blueberry, you owe a quiet thank you to some very busy bees. Blueberries are one of the few crops that truly depend on insect pollinators—especially bees—to deliver a successful, juicy harvest. Without their relentless work, berry yields would drop, fruit sizes would shrink, and the fields wouldn’t buzz with the life we depend on.

When walking through Selby’s blueberry fields at Komani Estate, the gentle hum of bees is a familiar and welcome sound—one that signals abundance and hope for a fruitful harvest. In Zimbabwe, bees are the backbone of agriculture, responsible for pollinating not just wild plants but essential in our own blueberry production.

Blueberries depend heavily on bees for pollination. As each petite blueberry flower opens, it relies on bees to transfer pollen and ensure every berry sets. Honey bees work tirelessly gathering nectar and pollen. Their visits are essential—though it typically takes three honey bee visits to a single flower for perfect pollination and berry development. Yet, it’s the native wild and solitary bees that supercharge pollination through “buzz pollination”: the vibration of their bodies shakes out the pollen, leading to larger, more uniform fruits.

Zimbabwe’s Bee Diversity

Zimbabwe boasts a rich pollinator community. Honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) are the most familiar, thriving in hives across rural and commercial landscapes. Wild bee species such as Liotrigona parvula (stingless bees), various Andrena, nomia, and carpenter bees, as well as countless solitary species, all play roles in sustaining healthy farms. Each has a unique foraging style, habitat preference, and contribution to both wild ecosystems and cultivated crops like blueberries.

Selby’s Pollinator Care: Beyond Blueberries

Selby is deeply committed to protecting this critical workforce. During the blueberry flowering period, we minimise pesticide use and provide safe, chemical-aware habitats for bees. But our efforts don’t end with harvest. We recognise that bees need food year-round. Selby actively grows wildflowers and wild basil throughout the estate once blueberry season ends, carpeting the fields in blooms that nourish bees during off-peak times. Wild basil, chosen for its long flowering season and heavy nectar yields, is especially important, supporting bees when crops go dormant.

These floral corridors attract native bees and other pollinators, boosting their diversity and population. Our conservation practices create a resilient, sustainable ecosystem—one where healthy bees mean healthy harvests, now and for the future.

Why This Matters

Selby’s holistic approach supports the full life cycle of bees: clean, safe environments during pollination, rich food resources the rest of the year, and responsible stewardship of the land. We also support local education and outreach, raising awareness about bee and pollinator conservation among staff and community members.

Pollinators aren’t just farm helpers; they’re partners in every bottle of honey, every bowl of fruit, and every healthy ecosystem that supports Zimbabwean life. By caring for bees—honouring their vital role in nature’s balance—Selby invests in a vibrant, food-secure, and ecologically rich future for all.

For every ripe, juicy Selby blueberry, remember: the secret ingredient is the buzz of Zimbabwe’s bees