Geographic labelling

[JamezF]

In the "Have your say" section of my slightly damp copy of BBKA News (for December) there's a piece about labelling including the location (Coety in this case, in Wales). It mentions that the local TSO thought that to be called Coety Honey, all the honey must specifically come from Coety. The writer points out that the honey does, even if the nectar used to produce it might not. A lawyer apparently suggested that in order to fairly use the name, even the nectar should have come from within the village boundary.

It seems to me that such an interpretation could lead to quite odd situations where no-one could label honey coming from a geographic area of smaller than perhaps ten square kilometres with that location, which could well be a stretch even if the hives were in the centre of many reasonable size towns. I'm not even sure that Taunton, Somerset's county town, would qualify. And what if your hives were close to a county boundary? Would you have to label them as (say) Hampshire and Wiltshire Honey rather than just with the county where the hives were? There must be some places in the UK where there might be at least four counties within foraging distance of suitably-placed hives. Similarly with country boundaries.

Personally I'd say it was reasonable enough for the hives to be situated in an area that is generally associated with a given geographic location. So for example whilst my nearest town is Wiveliscombe, people often associate the name with an area much larger than the town boundary, typically including the hamlets (often only groups of half a dozen houses) for which Wiveliscombe is the "cultural" centre.

James

 

[Sutty]

I think similarly that the geographic location of the hive is enough. If marketed as "clifftop cottage honey" no-one would expect the bees to be restricted to clifftop cottage's property.
I sell mine with the name of my village.

 

[ericbeaumont]

the local TSO thought that to be called Coety Honey, all the honey must specifically come from Coety.

You'd think they'd have bigger fish to fry.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It mentions that the local TSO thought that to be called Coety Honey, all the honey must specifically come from Coety.

Haven't they got better things to do or are they trying to get rid of an underspend with the least effort?

 

[Newbeeneil]

In the "Have your say" section of my slightly damp copy of BBKA News (for December) there's a piece about labelling including the location (Coety in this case, in Wales). It mentions that the local TSO thought that to be called Coety Honey, all the honey must specifically come from Coety. The writer points out that the honey does, even if the nectar used to produce it might not. A lawyer apparently suggested that in order to fairly use the name, even the nectar should have come from within the village boundary.

It seems to me that such an interpretation could lead to quite odd situations where no-one could label honey coming from a geographic area of smaller than perhaps ten square kilometres with that location, which could well be a stretch even if the hives were in the centre of many reasonable size towns. I'm not even sure that Taunton, Somerset's county town, would qualify. And what if your hives were close to a county boundary? Would you have to label them as (say) Hampshire and Wiltshire Honey rather than just with the county where the hives were? There must be some places in the UK where there might be at least four counties within foraging distance of suitably-placed hives. Similarly with country boundaries.

Personally I'd say it was reasonable enough for the hives to be situated in an area that is generally associated with a given geographic location. So for example whilst my nearest town is Wiveliscombe, people often associate the name with an area much larger than the town boundary, typically including the hamlets (often only groups of half a dozen houses) for which Wiveliscombe is the "cultural" centre.

James

I have one apiary which is within 250m of the junction of 3 counties. Training the bees not to wander across the borders could be difficult!

 

[enrico]

I call mine Somerset Wetlands which is true at the moment but in the summer maybe it should be dry or damplands

 

[Erichalfbee]

Mine is labelled Aeron Valley. I don’t think the bees fly out of it.