Urban farming has expanded nationwide, offering environmental and economic sustainability while providing food sovereignty to underserved communities. However, urban farming poses unique challenges that conventional farmers often do not face. These farms typically grow a diversity of crops, many of which are dependent on insect pollination. While some farmers utilize honey bees for pollination, attracting wild bees with pollinator-supportive practices can also provide adequate crop pollination. Implementation of management strategies that support pollinators can be influenced by farm and grower characteristics. In this study, we surveyed 74 urban growers and evaluated the influence of grower characteristics, such as grower demographics, perception, motivation, resource use and accessibility, and source of educational information, on the implementation of eight commonly used pollinator management strategies and overall farm richness. We also described grower and farm characteristics and the use frequency of various educational sources. Overall, the importance of pollinators on a farm (based on the proportion of high-pollinator-dependent crops grown) did not influence the use of pollinator management strategies by urban growers. Demographic variables (age, gender, farm income, education, years of agricultural experience) had no impact on grower decisions. Rather, growers were influenced most by information source, resource use and accessibility, perception, and motivation. Factors associated with educational source and resource use and accessibility had the greatest impact on pollinator management implementation and crop richness. Specifically, using educational resources to inform farm management practices, city policies, and manual labor impacted grower decision the most. The most popular sources of educational information were hard copy books and field guides, conversations with colleagues and other farmers, and online extension articles and non-profit organization resources. Our findings also suggested that urban growers may incorporate certain pollinator management practices more effectively when utilizing online materials rather than hard copy formats. Overall, this study highlights the need to create and provide more accessible educational materials and resources to urban growers. Historically, these growers have been underserved by agricultural educators; thus, it is critical to incorporate their unique needs and challenges when creating farmer resources related to pollinator management. By more effectively communicating the importance of insect crop pollinator management through educational tools, we can support more productive urban agricultural systems.

Pollinator declines coupled with increasing demand for insect pollinated crops have the potential to cause future pollinator shortages for our most nutritious and valuable crops. Ensuring adequate crop pollination may necessitate a shift in pollination management, from one that primarily relies on the managed European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) to one that integrates alternative pollinators. While a growing body of scientific evidence supports significant contributions made by naturally occurring, native bees for crop pollination, translating research to practice requires buy-in from growers. The intention of agricultural extension is to address grower needs and concerns; however, few studies have assessed grower knowledge, perceptions and attitudes about native pollinators. Here we present findings from questionnaire-based surveys of over 600 apple growers in New York State and Pennsylvania, coupled with ecological data from bee surveys. This hybrid sociological and biological survey allows us to compare grower knowledge and perceptions to an actual pollinator census. While up to 93% of respondents highly valued importance of native bees, 20% growers did not know how much native bees actually contribute to their orchard pollination. Despite the uncertainty, a majority of growers were open to relying on native bees (up to 60% in NY and 67% in PA) and to making low-cost changes to their farm's management that would benefit native pollinators (up to 68 in NY and 85% in PA). Growers consistently underestimated bee diversity, but their estimates corresponded to major bee groups identifiable by lay persons, indicating accurate local knowledge about native bees. Grower reliance on honeybees increased with farm size; because native bee abundance did not measurably decrease with farm size, renting honeybees may be motivated by risk avoidance rather than grower perception of lower native bee activity. Demonstrated effectiveness of native pollinators and clear guidelines for their management were the most important factors influencing grower decision to actively manage orchards for native bees. Our results highlight a pressing need for an active and research-based extension program to support diversification of pollination strategies in the region.

Pollinator declines and dependence on insect pollination, particularly in fruit and vegetable crops, creates a pressing need to understand growers' interactions with pollinators and factors affecting pollination strategies. At present, many growers are dependent on commercial honey bees (Apis mellifera), but diversified strategies may be necessary to secure adequate crop pollination in the future. As of yet, little social science research exists on pollination practices. This article presents the results of a survey of lowbush blueberry growers in Maine. The survey was part of a five-year pollination security study focusing on four fruit and vegetables crops in the Northeast US. The survey assesses grower perceptions of native pollinators' effectiveness and their perceptions of native pollinators' contribution to fruit set. Results indicate a widespread perception among growers of native pollinators' importance. While native pollinators are not effective enough to replace rented honey bees for three-quarters of the industry, they are broadly seen as an important form of insurance in poor weather when honey bees' effectiveness is reduced. The main obstacle to greater utilization of native pollinators found in this study was uncertainty over native pollinators' contribution to yield and the associated difficulty monitoring native pollinators' population size. Scientists and extension experts must work to reduce these obstacles before more widespread use of native pollinators will occur.