Peter Borst wrote: > The second is environmental. I don't know if any other crop but honey is subjected to this odd and stringent standard. It is assumed by the NY state group that honey bees working in an area where there is agriculture will pick up pesticides and pollute the honey with it. No testing is done to see if this, in fact, occurs. I tried to argue that my bees visit mostly wild or non-sprayed plants such as wild raspberries, locust trees, basswood trees, and goldenrod. They wouldn't listen to this at all. Honey is presumed guilty without a trial. Peter, Blame Maine. I (along with many others) suffered the same frustration trying to point out the stupidity of the standards. Many years back, before Varroa really hit and tracheal was more or less under control, what eventually has become the foundation for the national standard for organic honey was debated and approved by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. Several of us said the restrictions were unrealistic but that was met by the position that we were outside the movement (even though I was a member for quite some time, but new to beekeeping) so did not understand or were too permissive or pro pesticide. The ones who dreamed it up were marginal beekeepers at best or ignorant at worst. And it had a life of its own after that. My guess is that there are few organic beekeepers as most farmers rely on local bees for pollination and they have enough on their plate than to add bees to the equation, especially with mites killing untreated colonies. Bill Truesdell Bath, Me