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At 09:53 25/06/1996 -0400, you wrote:
>See the below link for a report of a task force of the Council for
>Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) regarding "Organic Honey".
>While this is a bit off the line of discussion it does indicate what
>regulators could look for in providing guidelines for honey labeling.
>Denotation of honey quality given their definition implies that the entire
>process of honey collection, removal and handling is inspected, and
>regulated.
>To tap into a local market given the definitions put forth by this Council,
>make it nearly impossible in my area given the chemical basis for
>agricultural production.  The raw, crudely strained honey markets well to
>the small crows demanding it.  This group accepts the bits, cloudiness and
>early crystallization of the product.
>
>I believe that the truly Raw honey will continue to be a commodity produced
>and distributed by the hobbyists and small beekeepers.  Due to the quantity
>and nature of handling volumes of honey, commercial producers will continue
>to require some level of heating and filtering to provide the longer shelf
>life and crystal clear, pure sanitized image that most Americans find
>desirous.
>
>What the optimum "amount of heat" required, minimizing deleterious effects,
>will remain variable because of the varied composition of honey from varied
>sources.
>
>
>Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter
>Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764)
>
>02-26-96  APIS - Volume 14, Number 2
>
>ORGANIC HONEY?--RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
>
>gopher://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu:70/00gopher_root3%3A%5Bdatabase.api%5D96api02.asc
>
>Mike
>                                                 .-~~~-.
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>            (  (__{(@)}\__}.//_/_____/_____|____\_______________
>             \__/{/(_)\_}  )\\ \\---------------------------------
>               (   (__)_)_/  )\ \> Mike Griggs [log in to unmask]
>                \__/\__/      Entomologist/Support Scientist
>
>               HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html
>-----previous message snipped for brevity---
>
>>Hi Brian
>>
>>You are missing the point altogether.  By your definition I can heat my
>>honey, then filter it to the point that it has very little color and no
>>pollen, then label it as natural honey so long as it is not contaminated or
>>adulterated.  This is basically true in the USA.  Some states are beginning
>>to set some standards for grades of honey.
>>
>>My point is that under present law highly processed honey can be and is
>>labeled as raw honey.  That is the point.  We have laws that carry stiff
>>penalties for selling adulterated or contaminated honey.  What we do not
>>have are laws that define what is raw, or what is natural, what is filtered
>>etc.  This is what needs to be resolved so that the consumer knows what he
>>or she is buying, real raw honey or a product that has been so processed
>>that it barely resembles honey.
>>
>>Frank Humphrey
>>[log in to unmask]
>>Frank Humphrey
>>[log in to unmask]
>
Oscar Calvete
Cerro Punta - Chiriqui
Republica de Panama
TE (507) 771-2056
FAX(507) 771-2104
E-mail [log in to unmask]