honey labels

[masterBK]

Andy
Good job you are not exhibiting this honey in a show as there is a clear air gap between the the honey and the lower rim of the lid. The entry would be disqualified under National honey show rules as under weight.

 

[Andy Duff]

Andy
Good job you are not exhibiting this honey in a show as there is a clear air gap between the the honey and the lower rim of the lid. The entry would be disqualified under National honey show rules as under weight.

I am not a big fan of honey, I would have to fight my 6'8" built like a brick .....house son who is THE honeymonster for a jar of the stuff. So no chance of showing it. Plus it's weighed out to the pound, oh no here we go again............

 

[Moggs]

I despair sometimes. One of the very few products of the hive that the general public see is our produced honey. They are often told that bees are in trouble. They no doubt sympathise with us as we struggle to maintain our bees and coax them to productivity, a sure sign that all is well.

Then some careless beekeepers spoil the final result, the delivered product by poor preparation, poor presentation and a careless and often cavalier attitude to some of the very few laws and standards that regulate our hobby.

Some of the labels and displays that I have seen (hobbyist products sold at garden centres being a prime example) are not too far short of shameful.

 

[Andy Duff]

I despair sometimes. One of the very few products of the hive that the general public see is our produced honey. They are often told that bees are in trouble. They no doubt sympathise with us as we struggle to maintain our bees and coax them to productivity, a sure sign that all is well.

Then some careless beekeepers spoil the final result, the delivered product by poor preparation, poor presentation and a careless and often cavalier attitude to some of the very few laws and standards that regulate our hobby.

Some of the labels and displays that I have seen (hobbyist products sold at garden centres being a prime example) are not too far short of shameful.

The trouble with the public is, they form their opinion about food with their eyes. They will not buy a potato that has a bit of dirt on it or an apple that does not shine like the sun. Eggs purchased from supermarkets have to be washed so they look nice, washing them reduces the length of time they will stay fresh. This sort of uninformed attitude killed the english apple business. Its all about the quallity of the product, not the nice polish. This is the reason growing your own and allotments are so popular, The nice clean, lasts forever mass produced food has no taste. I would rather spend my time growing fantastic veg and doing some propper beekeeping than waste my time filtering honey to death so I can show it. But that's just my opinion and no doubt to some showing honey is an important part of their life

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I recall seeing some research on selling eggs from the farm.

(Sorry - no reference - makes my post invalid, I guess.)

Two farms on the same road. One had a well-presented and professionally designed sign; the other, a crude hand painted notice.

Guess which farm sold more?

Dusty.

 

[susbees]

I would rather spend my time growing fantastic veg and doing some propper beekeeping than waste my time filtering honey to death so I can show it. But that's just my opinion and no doubt to some showing honey is an important part of their life

Nobody here wants bits of bee and earwig in their honey. Sensible levels of filtration to remove bits comes with pride about the product which IS part of proper beekeeping....and processing professionally (without overheating, overfiltering, pasteurising in my view) makes the stuff look great as well as taste great which makes it sell better.

A big city farmers' market I could name has loads of honey with smudged inkjet labels and crystal trails right down the inside the jars, separation and looks plain awful. The price - and sales - reflect it I expect.

The fill to the rim issue isn't picky, it's common sense: if your honey is marginal for water content then a gap like that could tip it to inedible.

 

[Moggs]

The trouble with the public..

...I would rather spend my time growing fantastic veg and doing some propper beekeeping than waste my time filtering honey to death so I can show it. But that's just my opinion and no doubt to some showing honey is an important part of their life

I don't recall any issue with unfiltered honey. Filtered or unfiltered, there is such a thing as pride in one's work that reflects the fundamental and fascinating work of the bees producing the raw material.

Have a look at some of the stuff on sale - does it really portray the standards of care that it ought to?

There's little doubt that most honey for sale has a certain appeal but it's unfortunate that some beekeepers are prepared to present any old rubbish, at least as far as appearance is concerned.

 

[steve1958]

For the past few years I have been selling Honey to one of the Gardeners on the Allotments.
On Saturday I received a phone call from a Gentleman asking if I would sell him some honey.
An hour later this man arrives at my home money in hand.

It turns out he had obtained my phone number from a jar of honey that was given him.
The story goes as follows:

I have been selling Honey to the Gardener on the Allotments (who uses it to stop his Hay Fever, thus reducing his Asthma symptoms).
He is a retired man who keeps in contact with his old Boss.
In talking with his Boss he told him about the 'Magical' properties of my honey, and even gave him a jar.

The Boss has another man that works for him who suffers badly with Hay Fever.
So he passed on some of his jar to his employee.
He was impressed with it so much he contacted me to ask if he could buy some

What is even better, it turns out that this man lives only walking distance from my home.
So I was able to supply him with real 'Local Honey' .

The whole deal done nice and smoothly, thanks to the information printed on the jar of Honey.

 

[Black Comb]

What are your thoughts on colour or black & white?
I've just started printing my own on my b/w laser and it looks OK. (had Big T's prior at great expense).
Must say my experience in another life goes along with the post by Dusty.

 

[alanf]

What are your thoughts on colour or black & white?
I've just started printing my own on my b/w laser and it looks OK. (had Big T's prior at great expense).
Must say my experience in another life goes along with the post by Dusty.

too with Dusty.

Look at the preserve jar labels in any garden centre, gift shop or tourist frequented area. Lots of sepia and script type fonts trying to look home produced even if they are from an industrial unit on the edge of town and made from bulk ingredients.

IMHO honey showing has become outdated in striving for clarity and uniformity. When showing started, it was a sign of putting a bit more effort to distinguish your products from the usual standard. Over the years industrial processing has made the supermarket product so pristine that the artisan product is signalled by the opposite. Basic filtering for bee bits, yes, but filter out most of the pollen and you might as well have the mass produced version.