The economic theory of supply and demand can explain the recent drastic changes in the pollination prices for almonds and cherries following large acreage increases for these crops and a concurrent drop in the availability of honey bees caused by colony collapse disorder (CCD). We created a model that shows that as acreage (pollination demand) increases, pollination prices also increase. Similarly, as the availability of honey bee colonies (pollination supply) decreases, pollination fees rise. The blue orchard bee ( Osmia lignaria Say). The availability of the alternative pollinator decreases demand for honey bees and causes is that almonds produce distasteful honey (unlike cherries), they bloom earlier than cherries, and almonds comprise about 10 the price of pollination in these tree crops and provide a means for predicting prices in face of future changes in crop acreage [pollination demand] and the availability of different pollinators (pollination supply).
