Apimondia Honey Show

[JamezF]

with the news hitting the Observer today as well - there will be a great wailing and a gnashing of teeth amongst the tofu knitters

Isn't that a good thing (for the likes of us)?

James

 

[Garry R]

It must not be beyond the wit of man with the number of fraudulent honeys being detected with more sophisticated scientific methodology to be able to do the tests with confidence and then name and shame the perpetrators, Do the large supermarkets have testing or do they accept what the supplier's word? Does Joe Public care or is he just price driven.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Does Joe Public care or is he just price driven.

that

 

[JamezF]

Do the large supermarkets have testing or do they accept what the supplier's word?

And this. How would it be in the supermarket's interest to actually test the honey that is delivered to them when the majority of their customers are driven by price rather than quality?

James

 

[Garry R]

Very true . At least a test by an independent agency and the results posted might make people realise they are being ripped off.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Very true . At least a test by an independent agency and the results posted might make people realise they are being ripped off.

they know already but don't care

 

[roche]

they know already but don't care

I'm not sure that they do - A lot of people don't understand food production, sourcing or economics. Education about food quality, health and fairness seems to be lacking - not just here but globally.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'm not sure that they do

beg to differ on this one, a colleague of my mother has been buying honey for herself and her daughter off me for years, her husband, who is fully aware of the supermarket scam and has spoken to me a few times about it, refuses to eat anything else but cheap supermarket syrup as it's what he likes, and all he's prepared to pay for

 

[JamezF]

I'm not sure that they do - A lot of people don't understand food production, sourcing or economics. Education about food quality, health and fairness seems to be lacking - not just here but globally.

I suspect that this is in part the case. Possibly in part because they don't want to really think about what happens for them to be able, for example, to buy strawberries in December or mangetout with no pest damage or half a kilo of honey, at low cost. Perhaps there's an element of denial involved, especially given the power of supermarket advertising and perhaps it just doesn't seem real if the problems don't clearly affect them -- compare with the outrage over the horsemeat scandal for instance, when I think an awful lot of people were not distressed because they'd been sold meat of a different origin from that they'd thought, but rather because they might have eaten a lovely horsey.

James

 

[JamezF]

beg to differ on this one, a colleague of my mother has been buying honey for herself and her daughter off me for years, her husband, who is fully aware of the supermarket scam and has spoken to me a few times about it, refuses to eat anything else but cheap supermarket syrup as it's what he likes, and all he's prepared to pay for

I think there will always be some people who do understand the issues and make the same choices anyhow. The odd thing in this case is that even knowing what he's buying, he's likely being ripped off and he doesn't seem concerned about that either.

James

 

[fian]

beg to differ on this one, a colleague of my mother has been buying honey for herself and her daughter off me for years, her husband, who is fully aware of the supermarket scam and has spoken to me a few times about it, refuses to eat anything else but cheap supermarket syrup as it's what he likes, and all he's prepared to pay for

Yes, but at least the labels will not indicate honey, so if a consumer decides to buy another product (syrup, sweet or any other delicacy) due to its price, it will stop beekeepers from giving the unbearable litany of "in the supermarket the honey costs x€/£"

 

[Dodge]

Look at McDonalds and the constant advertising for the Saver Menu. People flock for these deals, no one is bothered about the quality or even where the food is from. All they are bothered about is the price point and that it's a Macky-Dos.

 

[Dodge]

If a supermarket sold syrup with a Honey flavour and called it "Honey Style Sweetner / Spread" (let's suspend the Honey Regs for this comment) I truly think it would help shocking how many would buy it.

We are already mentally re-programmed by plenty of products saying Greek Style, Icelandic Style Yoghurt ....... in the shelves just another would not be registered in many minds just what it truly means.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Look at McDonalds and the constant advertising for the Saver Menu. People flock for these deals, no one is bothered about the quality or even where the food is from. All they are bothered about is the price point and that it's a Macky-Dos.

The same people who are saying farmers shouldn’t be subsidised. If they can’t make money farming they should sell up and do something else.

 

[Penninetrader]

beg to differ on this one, a colleague of my mother has been buying honey for herself and her daughter off me for years, her husband, who is fully aware of the supermarket scam and has spoken to me a few times about it, refuses to eat anything else but cheap supermarket syrup as it's what he likes, and all he's prepared to pay for

Then I suspect he just wants a sweetener in any form and what he purchases suffices to diguise that fact

 

[fian]

I always have to bring a client one or two pieces of "Pan de Cea" (a type of artisan bread and the first food product with the EU Protected Geographical Indication seal), this client's son does not want any other type of bread .

 

[Macbear]

I suspect that this is in part the case. Possibly in part because they don't want to really think about what happens for them to be able, for example, to buy strawberries in December or mangetout with no pest damage or half a kilo of honey, at low cost. Perhaps there's an element of denial involved, especially given the power of supermarket advertising and perhaps it just doesn't seem real if the problems don't clearly affect them -- compare with the outrage over the horsemeat scandal for instance, when I think an awful lot of people were not distressed because they'd been sold meat of a different origin from that they'd thought, but rather because they might have eaten a lovely horsey.

James

I was brought up to recognise quality food - there were farmers in the family and my dad was a meat inspector [amongst other things]. My first job was working for a butcher. Throughout my life I have always wanted to know what the food item is, its source [not just which shop] and if it is edible [e.g. not just smelling correct, the right colour..] That's one reason why I grow quite a lot of my own produce. The freezer ensures some out of season fruit and veg - like my bees I like to fill "the hungry gaps".
I first ate horsemeat supplied to my school kitchen in the late 1970s and we knew what it was. No problem. These days it's pork, beef and fish almost exclusively - from excellent local butchers and fishmongers only!
Another pet dislike is supermarket "bread". As a diabetic it is good to be restricted to rye and wholemeal from a local independent bakery. Treat day yesterday - I had a honey sandwich: honey is strictly rationed for me. No problem with honey provenance - I was observing in my apiary this morning.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Another pet dislike is supermarket "bread".

Yes I’ve given up on this and bake two or three times a week. Cotswold Flour do a great variety of flours.

 

[JamezF]

Yes I’ve given up on this and bake two or three times a week. Cotswold Flour do a great variety of flours.

We've been making our own for so long that I couldn't even be sure what year it was when I last ate supermarket bread. I might even struggle to get the decade right

James

 

[roche]

Likewise. I find the salt content of bought bread way too high now.