Celebrity chef Richard Sandoval has launched the Viva Abejas campaign for Earth Month, focusing on the importance of bees in our food cycle and educating consumers. The campaign includes a limited-time honey-focused menu at participating restaurants, showcasing dishes and drinks like the Honey Hibiscus Mocktail and the Beekeeper cocktail. Sandoval stresses the crucial role of bees in pollinating ingredients essential to Mexican cuisine, like tomatoes, vanilla, and avocados.
Through the Viva Abejas campaign, Sandoval hopes to spark conversations about food sustainability and inspire guests to learn more about the issue. The chef aims to raise awareness about the global decline in bee populations and the impact it has on our food supply. By offering unique honey-inspired dishes, Sandoval encourages diners to think about the importance of bees and how they contribute to a secure and promising future for food production.
In addition to the menu specials, this year’s Viva Abejas campaign includes an educational component focused on teaching 60,000 early learners about the significance of bees. Sandoval has partnered with underserved elementary schools to implement a signature in-school lesson plan and has written a children’s book about food sustainability, available in English and Spanish on Amazon Prime. The book aims to educate young readers about the importance of bees while also raising funds for non-profits like the World Bee Project and Hekab de Biblioteca.
Sandoval emphasizes the importance of investing in youth to ensure a successful future, stating that educating children about food sustainability is essential for creating a more secure and promising world. The Viva Abejas campaign has already reached nearly 20,000 early learners in the U.S., with a goal of reaching 60,000 by the end of the campaign on April 22, 2024. Through curated classroom lessons and read-aloud events, Sandoval hopes to inspire the next generation to take action in preserving the environment and supporting bee populations.
By combining philanthropy, education, and delicious cuisine, the Viva Abejas campaign aims to raise awareness for the importance of bees in our food system and inspire consumers to make sustainable choices. Sandoval’s dedication to preserving traditional Latin American cuisine, which relies heavily on pollinators like bees, highlights the urgency of addressing the decline in bee populations. With the campaign running throughout Earth Month, Sandoval hopes to leave a lasting impact on the way people think about food sustainability and the role bees play in our ecosystem.
