The Häagen-Dazs(R) Brand Helps to Keep Beekeeping Off the List of Endangered Industries

OAKLAND, CA--(Marketwire - May 19, 2009) - News continues to be bleak for the nation's commercial beekeeping industry, which could ultimately mean more bad news for farmers and higher prices at the grocery store. Although a recent survey conducted by the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) to measure colony losses over the winter of 2008-2009 found that the total number of colonies lost last winter was lower than the losses suffered over the previous two winters, a 29% loss is worrying. Overall, beekeepers are facing honey bee losses at rates that are economically unsustainable.

"After battling staggering honey bee losses for the past three years, many beekeepers will struggle to find resources necessary to keep replacing lost colonies, causing many to face the possibility of going out of business," said AIA president and Häagen-Dazs® Ice Cream Bee Board member, Dennis vanEngelsdorp "The loss of the beekeepers who pollinate the nation's orchards and melon patches will have an effect on the types and quality of food produced in the United States."

Honey bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food every American takes. Concerned because of the direct effect honey bees have on our food supply and 50 percent of Häagen-Dazs® ice cream flavors that are "bee-built," earlier this year the Häagen-Dazs brand stepped up for a second year to redouble its Häagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees™ campaign efforts. This commitment included a second donation to UC Davis and Penn State Universities of $250,000, bringing the brand's total donation for honey bee research to a half million dollars over two years. It also marked the continuation of the special Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream flavor, and the HD loves HB™ symbol and message under the carton lids on all bee-built flavors.

For full details on how the Häagen-Dazs brand is helping honey bees and how you can take part, please visit www.helpthehoneybees.com.

About Häagen-Dazs

Crafted in 1960 by Reuben Mattus in his family's dairy, Häagen-Dazs is the original superpremium ice cream. True to tradition, we are committed to using only the purest ingredients in crafting the world's finest ice cream. Truly made like no other, today Häagen-Dazs ice cream offers a full range of products from ice cream to sorbet, frozen yogurt and frozen snacks in more than 65 flavors. Häagen-Dazs products are available around the globe for ice cream lovers to enjoy. For more information, please visit www.Häagen-Dazs.com.

For more information please visit: http://www.firstlinemedia.com/epk/bees

©HDIP, Inc.