Frank asks about "increased honey production due to
using drawn comb."

The general rule of thumb among commercial producers of comb honey is that
they get approximately 60% of the yield they would get if they were instead
producing honey for extraction, using drawn comb.

So, if they get 100 pounds of comb honey they would have collected
approximately 170 pounds of honey for extraction if they had used drawn
comb.

As these guys tend to also produce tons of honey for extraction, often in
the same yards as their comb honey hives, and have large enough numbers to
make averages work, I think the data are pretty good.  In addition, this is
also my experience.

As an aside, in these days of relatively high prices for extracted honey the
commercial guys are charging somewhat more than 'equivalent prices for comb
honey and so far there has not been a negative consumer reaction.  In fact,
in 30 years I have never seen such shortages of comb honey as I saw last
year and it appears as if 2004 will be a repeat.  (Don't believe what you
see in the magazines as 'retail' prices for comb honey.  As far as the
Northeast is concerned, the lower end of the ranges are less than the
wholesale prices!)  In 2003, wholesale cut comb in 12 oz. containers sold
for $3.50-$4.00, and wholesale Ross Rounds (8 oz.) sold for $2.85-$3.35.
Both sold out quickly.

Based on a 60% yield, the 'extracted equivalent price of the cut comb was
$2.20-$2.50 (for 12 ounces) and the similar price of the Ross Rounds was
$1.80-$2.10 (for 8 ounces).  Both Ross Rounds and cut comb have
approximately equal packaging costs but Ross Rounds are considerably less
labor intensive than is cut comb.


Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacturers of Ross Rounds Comb
Honey Equipment, Sundance Pollen Traps
and Custom Printer of Sundance Labels.

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