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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Eric Brown <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:23:11 -0500
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>Add a story or image about your operation on the label and sell a superior 
product in glass at a
>price you can make money at. its not that hard really.
....
>people want the real McCoy and will pay extra for it. 
....
>My point earlier about US migratory feedlot honey being lumped with 
imported is that a growing
>movement of people want an ethically produced product and shun imports. 

The problem I have with your argument is that you're giving way too much 
credit to consumers, especially the kind of consumers you're talking about 
selling to.  Is it possible to add a story or an image and sell for a 
premium price?  Sure, I believe that.  What I don't believe is that that 
story or image has to have any real substance, which is to say the market 
you're talking about is almost equally accessible to the kind of beekeepers 
you deride, should they decide to pursue it.  Tell us, Brian, what your 
customers wouldn't let you get away with if you crafted your marketing 
carefully?  You could treat your bees with coumaphos and brag that you 
didn't use amitraz or treat them with amitraz and brag that you didn't 
treat them with coumaphos.  You could send your bees to almond pollination 
and just not mention it in your marketing.  You could feed tanker loads of 
corn syrup and brag that your honey is raw and unfiltered.  The beekeepers 
I know that sell their honey to "health food stores" for very high prices 
here in North Carolina do all of the above.

>We can argue all we want about what
>sustainable means etc. Who would offer though that migratory beekeeping IS 
sustainable? 

Are you saying your production/marketing model is sustainable?

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