> Freedom variety is not "bee free."  Just needs fewer bees.
>

Interesting article from "informed Farmers" website-

For a grower, variety selection is key to both establishing and replanting
> orchards. Because few almond varieties are  self-fertile, combinations of
> varieties rather than single varieties should be selected. Several at least
> partly self-fertile varieties have been introduced, but in California none
> has been extensively planted due to uncertainties about their productivity
> because of unfavorable characteristics.
>

That tracks with my experience with "self pollinator" fruit trees, that you
get what you pay for which is the self pollination, but you lose out on
other features like yield, taste, and the like.

Just like breeding for Varroa tolerance but losing on other desirable
features with bees.

Also, self pollinators usually come with a caveat that they do better with
bee pollination, which also fits with "needs fewer bees".

So I would not be looking at any reduction in almond pollination services
anytime soon, if ever.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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