Harry writes: "What is the American opinion on organic food?
Would you pay more to eat organic food?  Is there a general revulsion
against pesticide use or is it acceptable provided no bees are killed?"

You asked for opinions, so I'll give you (and the rest of the list) a few of
mine on this subject.  I have opinions, experience, and hearsay knowledge on
the subject.  When in high school, I did a term paper on Rachel Carson's
"Silent Spring" for my English class (that was in the 60's).  I've studied
"Biological Control" and subscribed to "Organic Farming and Gardening", I
compost, and I don't use chemical pesticides or fertilizers in my gardening.
I have considered myself an "organic gardener" for many many years.  Since I've
also studied chemistry and toxicology and read extensively, I may have a
little different attitude toward it than some (I like to think I have a "more
knowledgeable" attitude), but here it is:

(don't forget--everything you read from now on is only opinions)

People who like/prefer organically produced foods are fearful of chemical
contamination of foods, which contamination might lead to cancer and other
illnesses.  Maybe you could call it "chemophobia".  They also believe in the
"balance of nature" and that mother nature will take care of problems for us
if we will only let her.  They believe that chemicals (both poisons and
fertilizers) pollute the environment and poison life on it.  They've heard of
lake eutrophication caused by fertilizers.  They've read of illnesses caused
by pesticides and other chemicals.  These things happen.  They care very much
about their health and don't want to do anything to jeopardize it.  They
believe that poisons normally kill beneficial as well as harmful organisms.
They worry about the long term effects of these materials in the environment
and in the food chain.  They are therefore willing to pay more for foods that
they believe are free or these unwanted chemicals.  Depending on how much of
a "purist" the "organic" person is, they may accept materials of biological
origin as being "natural" or "organic" and acceptable to use for, say, insect
control.  For example, diatomaceous earth dust or sabadilla dust might be
considered all right, while malathion or diazinon would not be.  They probably
prefer to get their vitamins (at least some people do) from the wholesome
foods they eat rather than from synthetically produced vitamin pills.  To some
people it is a "religion" or at least it has the same strength in their lives
as a religion.  Some people can be entirely fanatical about it.  Medicines are
another area that is related to this philosophy (don't use them).

Now on to how it relates to beekeeping:  this philosophy would rule out using
terramycin (antibiotics) or Apistan (chemical/pesticide) to treat bee diseases
or parasites.  There would also, of course, be concern about bees foraging in
areas treated by chemicals (particularly pesticides) where the chemicals could
be picked up by the bees either in pollen, nectar, or directly on their bodies
by being sprayed.  There is also some concern of chemical residues being in or
on the materials used for hive construction.  The "working reality" of whether
the honey, for example, is "organic" or not should ultimately be determined by
what chemical residues are found in it.  Chemicals and pollutants may be found
everywhere in the environment, whether on the highest mountain top, the North
Pole, or in the remotest wilderness or desert, but if none of these things
were applied within the foraging area of the bees (with a clean buffer zone for
good measure), then I personally would consider the honey "organically
produced" and would feel good about using it and that it is "as clean as can
be".  In reality, nothing is perfectly pure, but also in reality, some things
are cleaner or purer than others.  That is obvious.  A great part of it is a
matter of perception and belief, and as Dave Green says "is used as a marketing
tool."  IMHO  This is my opinion and perception.  People will act in accordance
with their belief systems.  Lots of people will pay a premium price for food
they believe is cleaner or purer.  I, for one, will not.  That's why I do my
own gardening and keep my own bees, and, yes, there is a general revulsion
among many people toward toxic chemicals, and for good reason.  Now that I've
said all that, I will also say that fluvalinate is one of the least toxic
chemicals around, and I don't worry much about it being at all dangerous.  Now
let me add before I end this long epistle (sorry about that), and repeat, we
act based on our beliefs, and subsequently (hopefully) learn from our
experiences.  Good beekeeping.

Layne Westover
College Station, Texas