You are not fully agreeing with the supply and demand bit? Sure some of the Gower beeks must be selling somewhere but I don't know where or perhaps they have enough for friends and family? I drive pass several houses where I know bees are kept, some with 10 hives but they don't even sell at the gate. I have noticed another supplier, a larger bee farmer from Carmarthenshire (who comically told the shop owner his bees flew over the estuary to gather nectar on Gower and marshes) but that's it. Gower honey seems to be like gold dust and everything with Gower branding is preyed upon by tourists which is why I charge what I charge.
I sell at the gate and have flooded shops this year because as you rightly say I have more honey. I opted for this instead of markets to keep my weekends free and by the time I add the cost of a stall to the equation, the margin is pretty minimal. If beekeeping was my main income I would certainly review my approach. Yes the shops mostly sell to tourists and that is another reason why I want to get it out of the door before mid-September. This also allows shops to add whatever profit margin they want.I also don't have a warming cabinet so don't want to wait until the honey crystalises.
Yes the community growing cooperative is great, especially that one. A good friend of mine who is involved with it suggested it to me. The collection point is next to a new bakery and I can put a table on Friday mornings if I want for a couple of hours or Thursday evening.
