Is $15/10 oz "organic" honey snake oil? I’ll bet I pay pretty close to that for my own five to ten gallons of honey each year by the time all is said and done. But I get to decide for myself whether my honey is worth its weight in gold and the answer is “almost but not quite.” The enjoyment I get from replacing dead outs makes up the difference. It’s a bit like going fishing. By the time you buy the boat the tackle, the license and the gas, that fish probably costs you fifty bucks a pound. I agree that the label “Organic” does not by itself make the honey better. I also think that to a large extent it is the people who pay those high prices that create a mystic about organic for themselves. More power to them. I don’t think they would agree that they are being ripped off. Around here (Pacific NW) a lot of people who use organic growing methods are forgoing the hassle and expense of getting certified. They sell mostly locally to restaurants and at local markets, and count on establishing personal relationships with their customers. They are also discouraged by the fact that big box stores are getting on the organic bandwagon, putting downward pressure on prices. Many of them also feel that these big businesses are making the organic designation less meaningful by their influence on the standard. Organic farmers, beekeepers and customers are not just concerned with the end product as has been pointed out several times on this and other threads. So even if the quality of the product was the same, they would still choose a product for the way it is produced. Many of them go to great lengths to learn the whole story of how their food got their table. I respect that. I don’t necessarily do it though. Steve Noble ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************