SIGN OFF 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 > .-~~~-. > / } > / .-~ > \ | } > \.~~-.-~| . -~_ > / \./ \/\ { O | ` .-~. ; ~-.__ > __{^\_ _}_ ) }/^\ ~--~/-|_\| : : .-~ > / /\_/^\._}_/ // / / | \~ - - ~ > ( (__{(@)}\__}.//_/_____/_____|____\_______________ > \__/{/(_)\_} )\\ \\--------------------------------- > ( (__)_)_/ )\ \> 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]