>    Thanks for the ideas.
 Re: bumblebees - and cranberry pollination.  No questions about it that
bumblebees are the best.  The problem lies in getting high enough
populations of the ferals to do the job or cheap enough commercials ones.
So far the later doesn't seem to be getting close to being cost effective.
The ferals are proving very difficult to manage.  The use of nesting boxes
has been so-so in acceptance - 10 to 60%.  They may help some but are not
the answer.  Planting of early blooming food sources for the bumble bees
around the bogs seems to help but it is too early to tell if it really
changes the populations of pollinators. Nevertheless our survey of over 100
bogs from Oregon to BC strongly suggest that populations density of feral
bumble bees corresponds to the availablity of good food source during the
entire spring season.
 
 
Re: pollen collection and honey bees
 
I don't know about the nutritional value of cranberry pollen, but it has
only minor amounts of nectar rewards for bees.  Cranberry always loses out
to more rewarding flowers eg. blackberry.  The best way to collect cranberry
pollen so far appears to eliminate all other attractive plants from the
surrounding ecosystem.