Peter Borst wrote:

> The second is environmental. I don't know if any other crop but honey is subjected to this odd and stringent standard. It is assumed by the NY state group that honey bees working in an area where there is agriculture will pick up pesticides and pollute the honey with it. No testing is done to see if this, in fact, occurs. I tried to argue that my bees visit mostly wild or non-sprayed plants such as wild raspberries, locust trees, basswood trees, and goldenrod. They wouldn't listen to this at all. Honey is presumed guilty without a trial.

Peter,

Blame Maine.

I (along with many others) suffered the same frustration trying to point
out the stupidity of the standards.

Many years back, before Varroa really hit and tracheal was more or less
under control, what eventually has become the foundation for the
national standard for organic honey was debated and approved by the
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. Several of us said the restrictions
were unrealistic but that was met by the position that we were outside
the movement (even though I was a member for quite some time, but new to
beekeeping) so did not understand or were too permissive or pro
pesticide.

The ones who dreamed it up were marginal beekeepers at best or ignorant
at worst. And it had a life of its own after that. My guess is that
there are few organic beekeepers as most farmers rely on local bees for
pollination and they have enough on their plate than to add bees to the
equation, especially with mites killing untreated colonies.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Me