>Online food related blogs are all over the $1000 fee. What's fair about a
>multinational
with significant facilities to inspect paying the same as Homer the Honey
Man?

In the state of Kansas Barkmans Busy Bee ( huge packer) pays the same  $10
fee for his plant as the smallest of honey processors. It really is common
for fees to be the same for all sizes of operations.

$1000 is serious money to most of us. The highest fee I have ever heard of
for a food processor. I am inspected annually and subject to a walk-in at 
any
time in Missouri but pay no fee (up till now maybe) for the Health
department inspection.

ALL inspections are public record so I take the inspections very serious! My
place is always ready for an inspection. Inspections are the fear of the
small beekeeper. I have never walked into a small operation and not saw
violations. Mostly because without inspections most beekeepers do not
understand what the health rules are. When we give a program on the subject
attendance is poor.

I have refused to eat at a few fast food places after seeing the filth! Back
in the truck looking for a clean place!

>I am mailing a jar of my best honey to my senator, Amy Klobuchar, with a
>short note
commenting on how honey is never involved with recalls and why,  and also
requesting
they change the rule for the $1000 fee to be more fair for small producers.

Why not simply say the fee is too high and get a few packers (with real
pull) to help get the fee reduced?

I am not a snitch but I can say from being a lifetime member of the largest
beekeeping organization in my state that only a handful follow the existing
rules and process honey in a food approved kitchen. Kitchen yes ! food
approved no!

I am sorry but some of these guys produce honey for sale in filth
conditions. Of course a small percent but enforcement of existing rules are
lax. My people wear hairnets and some beekeepers cats & dogs help turn the
extractor.

bob

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