A festival that celebrates the importance of “pollinators” to the creation and preservation of our food supply will be held Saturday at the Evanston Ecology Center.
The Pollinator Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center, located at 2024 McCormick Blvd.
According to the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, about 1,000 plants worldwide that are grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines rely on pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to produce the goods upon which we depend.
The NAPPC contends that pollinating animals have suffered worldwide from loss of habitat, chemical misuse, introduced and invasive plant and animal species, and diseases and parasites.
Foods and beverages produced with the help of pollinators include apples, blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, potatoes, pumpkins, vanilla, almonds, and tequila, amounting to about $40 billion worth of products in the United States annually.
The local festival will include live butterflies, pollinator activities, guided tours of the pollinator garden, and information about how you can help pollinator populations.
Admission is free.