Visalia, CA (AHN) - Beekeepers are facing a career shock as 24 states throughout the country reporting bee disappearance at a startling rate.

The shocking loss highlights the critical importance of honeybees in the fruit and vegetable food chain.

David Bradshaw, a Californian beekeeper said he was stunned by the sudden disappearance of his bees.

"I have never seen anything like it. Box after box after box are just empty," Bradshaw told the New York Times.

A research at Cornell University estimated that honeybees yearly pollinate more than $14 billion worth of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the U.S.

Zac Browning, vice president of the American Beekeeping Federation said most seeds and crops are honeybee dependent.

"Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food," said Browning.

Researchers say the bees are apparently dying in the fields, perhaps becoming exhausted or simply disoriented and eventually falling victim to the cold.

"The real question is why they leave," Jerry Hayes, a bee expert for the Florida Department of Agriculture told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

This attack is the first national honeybee crisis ever. The losses are ranging from 30 to 60 percent on the West Coast and 70 percent in Texas.