Why make honey
without bees?

Why make honey
without bees?

Mellody was born from our love of bees. About 400 years ago, over 4,000 species of native bees thrived and pollinated plants and crops across North America. However, today those native bees and ecosystems are at risk. Around 80% of U.S. crops rely on pollination from non-native European honey bees, which are shipped and used on commercial farms and honey operations, leaving little honey (their food) for them.

The rest of our crops depend entirely on the original native pollinators, which are now at risk of extinction due to fierce competition from honey bees and environmental destruction. We’re committed to promoting ecological balance by creating more space for native pollinators. By collectively reducing the consumption of commercial honey, planting more native plants, and protecting habitats, we can restore biodiversity.

At Mellody, we’re doing our part by creating sticky, drippy, and delicious plant-based honey. We believe that by providing a delicious alternative to commercial honey, we can help support the preservation of our native bees and ecosystems. By enjoying the sweetness of our plant-based honey, you’re joining us in our mission to restore native habitats and ecological harmony.

A Brief History of
Honey Bees in America

Pre-colonial times:

Native bees and pollinators thrive in America.

1621

The ship Discovery arrives in America with beehives from the Virginia Company of London to help the new colony survive.

1730

Colonists establish approximately 170,000 honey bee colonies in America.

1785

Thomas Jefferson records that Native Americans referred to honey bees as the “white man’s fly” and used them to warn of approaching invaders.

1852

Lorenzo Langstroth invents the modern beehive, revolutionizing beekeeping and honey production.

1887

The first shipment of package bees from Italy arrives in the United States, introducing a new breed of honey bees to American beekeeping.

1909

The introduction of synthetic pesticides like DDT begins to impact the health and survival of native pollinators and other wildlife.

1962

The Africanized honey bee, also known as the "killer bee", is accidentally introduced to Brazil and later spreads to the United States, causing concern for public safety and impacting the honey bee industry.

1980s-1990s

The use of neonicotinoid pesticides increases, further contributing to declines in native pollinators and other beneficial insects.

2006

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is first reported, a phenomenon in which entire colonies of honey bees disappear or die off, leading to widespread concern for the health of honey bee populations and their role in pollination.

2010s

Increasing attention is given to the impacts of commercial beekeeping on the health of honey bee populations, as well as the need to protect and support native pollinators and their habitats.

2023

The launch of Mellody, a new plant-based honey brand designed to support native pollinators and biodiversity conservation.

Still Curious?

Wired Magazine

You're Worrying
About the Wrong Bees

Scientific American

The Problem With
Honey Bees

The National Wildlife Federation

The Truth About
Honey Bees

Scientific Reports

Honey Bees disrupt the structure
and function of plant-
polinator networks

National Geographic

We haven't seen a
quarter of known bee
species since the
1990s