 As you stroll through Horton Farmers’ Market, filling your basket with fresh strawberries, crisp cucumbers, colourful peppers, and local honey, it’s easy to focus on the farmers who grew them - we are forever grateful for their work. Behind many of these foods is another hardworking group that often goes unnoticed: pollinators! These tiny creatures play a vital role in our food system, helping many of the crops we know and love make their way from flower to harvest. Did you know one out of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators? Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate the insects and animals that help plants reproduce and produce many of the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seeds we enjoy every day (About Pollinators, 2026). While bees often get most of the attention, they’re far from the only pollinators helping local farms thrive.
Meet Our Pollinators Many people think of bees when they think of pollination, and although they play an important role, they’re just one member of a much larger team of pollinators in Ontario. From daytime pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds, to nighttime workers like moths, each pollinator contributes in its own unique way.  Bees Bees are some of Ontario’s most effective pollinators. As they collect pollen and nectar from flowers, they transfer pollen between plants, helping many fruits, vegetables, and wildflowers reproduce. Ontario is home to over 420 species of bee in addition to the well-known honey bee (Terpstra, 2017).  Butterflies Butterflies visit flowers for nectar and carry pollen from bloom to bloom as they feed. When they land on a flower to drink nectar, this is when their legs and body collects pollen that they then carry to the next plant they land on (Canadian Wildlife Federation, 2026). Hummingbird Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly coloured, tubular flowers. As they feed on nectar, pollen can stick to their heads and bodies, similarly to butterflies, and are transferred to other flowers. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the species most commonly found in Ontario (2026). Moths Many moths pollinate flowers after sunset, making them the night shift of the pollinator world. Some plants rely on these nighttime visitors to help move pollen when butterflies and bees are asleep (2026). Hoverfly Often mistaken for bees and wasps, hoverflies are important pollinators that visit a wide variety of flowers. They are especially valuable because their larvae also help control garden pests like aphids (2026). Challenges Pollinators Face Despite their importance, many pollinator populations are facing challenges - especially Ontario’s native bees. Habitat loss, changing weather patterns, pesticide exposure, and disease have contributed to declines in some pollinator species (Bell, 2014). The good news is that even small actions can make a difference. Planting native flowers, preserving natural spaces, and supporting farms and gardens that provide pollinator habitat can help ensure these important insects contribute to thrive. Healthy pollinator populations are not only important for wildlife, but also for the future of local food production.
Horton Foods to Thank Pollinators For Many of the local foods you purchase at Horton Farmers’ Market owe at least part of their success to pollinators. Without these hardworking helpers, many crops would produce fewer fruits, lower yields, and less consistent harvests.
 Fruit Strawberries, apples, cherries, peaches, and other fruits rely on pollination to produce the harvests we enjoy throughout the season (Pollinator Health, 2026). Vegetables Cucumbers, squash, asparagus, pumpkins, and peppers all benefit from pollinator visits. Without pollinators, these crops would produce fewer vegetables and lower yields (2026). Herbs and Spices Many herbs produce flowers that attract pollinators. In turn, pollinators help these plants reproduce and continue growing season after season (2026). Coffee What many people don’t know is that the presence of pollinators improves the quality and size of coffee beans - some coffee varieties are even fully dependent on pollinators (Coffee, 2016). Nuts and Seeds While some nut trees rely on wind for pollination, others benefit from insect visitors. Sunflower seeds, canola, alfalfa seeds, cashews, and macadamia nuts all benefit from pollination. Pollinators help improve seed and nut production, supporting both food crops and agricultural systems in Ontario and around the world (Terpstra, 2017). Honey Of course, honey itself is a direct reminder of the work bees do. Local honey producers help connect us to the important relationships between pollinators, plants, and food production (2026). Every jar is a reminder of the countless flower visits made by bees throughout the growing season. The next time you’re shopping at Horton Farmers’ Market, take a look around. From baskets of berries to fresh vegetables and jars of honey, pollinators have played a role in bringing many of these foods from flower to table. Pollinator Week is a chance to celebrate the small creatures that make a big impact. By supporting local farmers, planting pollinator friendly flowers, and learning more about the insects around us, we can all help create a healthier environment for pollinators and the food systems that depend on them.
References
About Pollinators. Pollinator.org. (2026). https://www.pollinator.org/pollinators Bell, A. (2014, November 27). Wild bees in trouble. Ontario Nature Wild Bees in Trouble Comments. https://ontarionature.org/wild-bees-in-trouble-blog/ Coffee. Discover Pollinators. (2016, September 23). https://discoverpollinators.org/pollinated-crops/coffee/ Dempster, C. (2017, May 12). How to grow native plants to help protect pollinators. Ontario Nature How to Grow Native Plants to Help Protect Pollinators Comments. https://ontarionature.org/how-to-grow-native-plants-to-help-protect-pollinators-blog/ Explore our pollinators. Canadian Wildlife Federation. (2026). https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/insects/explore-our-pollinators.html Johnson, E. (2020, July 30). Going wild for Native plants. Ontario Nature Going Wild for Native Plants Comments. https://ontarionature.org/going-wild-for-native-plants-blog/ Pollinator Health. ontario.ca. (2026, February 10). https://www.ontario.ca/page/pollinator-health Terpstra, J. (2017, September 25). Meet Ontario’s pollinators. Meet Ontario’s Pollinators | Ontario Agricultural College. https://www.uoguelph.ca/oac/news/meet-ontarios-pollinators
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