In a message dated 10/31/01 8:55:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<Virginia has a law (regulation?) requiring that if a =
honey label states a source, no less than 51% of the contents must be fro=
m that source.  Moreover, upon request they are willing to test the honey=
and order honey removed from shelves if it does not meet the minimum req=
uirements.  =20

    They test the honey by examining the pollen grains.>>

   That is hardly an equivalent ratio. Some plants are good pollen sources,
but poor nectar sources, and vice versa.  I.e., 51% of the pollen being
blackberry pollen, does not necessarily translate to 51% of the nectar being
from blackberry. And pollen from some plants is only identifiable down to
family anyway. I doubt that microscopic examination would be able to
differentiate between blackberry, dewberry, and many other rose family plants.

    I would seriously question the validity of such testing by the state.
There has been some testing in Europe trying to establish reasonable ratios
of the various plants re pollen and nectar, but I don't think that any
universally accepted tables of ratios exist. Different researchers found that
the test results were not repeatable.

    Pollen test would only establish very rough guidelines. For example, in
the southern Appalachians, there is a lot more sourwood sold than produced.
Tests of samples labeled sourwood should show at least *some* sourwood
pollen. I suspect many do not.

   Interestingly, Toxicodendron radicans is a very common pollen in honey,
and often makes up the majority of the pollen. Would you want to label your
honey *poison ivy*?

   I generally label by predominant taste. I discuss this with store
personnel that are often questioned by customers, and try to have them
thoroughly informed about honey. I have often pointed out that few honeys are
purely of one variety. Orange blossom, on a year when there is a good flow
would be one of the purest. But in a poor year, it would not, as bees will
range from the groves to find other nectar sources.

    I also usually have additional label information. For example, the front
panel may identify blackberry, but the back panel will say blackberry and
other spring flowers.

<<Finally, you may be interested to learn that your type of canola is not u=
sually grown here.  The Canola I have seen in Sweden is seeded in the fal=
l and harvested in early summer.  We call that Spring Canola.  Due to cli=
mate differences (it being much colder here than in Sweden during the win=
ter) we grow Summer Canola, which is seeded in the spring and harvested i=
n late summer.>>

    Canola grown in southeastern USA is all fall seeded. Canola could not
stand our summertime temperatures.

Dave Green    SC  USA
The Pollination Home Page:  http://pollinator.com