Reflecting on the thoughts that I mailed regarding UF and the resulting comments. They give rise to
these few words:
UF is similar to many other techniques and manipulations that have been developed.
It may be applied for the good and the bad (both being highly relative depending on ones objective
and point of view).
Jim's given example of removing protein haze in mead production would I presume get hands clapping
in praise - the resulting product has been enhanced without the final clientele being duped.
When UF is used to disguise the origins of a final product, that is deception - unless a clear
statement is delivered informing the purchaser of what has been done.
It appears from recent press/ government info. releases that deception is often the objective when
UF has been used, with end purchasers being cheated.
Customers hearing about this will start asking questions.
As more and more unsavory facts are revealed, then the sales of all honeys will fall.
Signs for local honey sure might help those producing a few hundreds of kilos.- but tell your local
prairie beekeeper to put up the same sign, with the suggestion that he/she will move the year's
crop! - you might just observe another sign being shown rather quickly.
I slipped up, and used the silly term "ban" - thanks for correcting me!
The existence of adulterated honey of any sort is depressing. So was watching the British beef
market collapse due to adulteration - one that was considered a fair risk to take at the time -
another story!
Truffles - how many kilos. are placed onto the international market - one doesn't require an agent
when a full carrier back is worth "its weight in gold" - not quite the same with our segmented
production and sales regime (it is illegal here in France to indicate in a public forum approved
prices for honey).
Olive Oil - remember the adulteration that took place in Spain 15 or so years back - it managed to
kill a fair number of individuals. But again, this individualistic type of marketing is not possible
for the vast majority of producers (ignoring IBM's publicity!).
The average consumer looks at two things:
1. Price - the cheaper, the better for the housekeeping budget.
2. Consistency and packaging.
Many listen to "good food" programs, and read "country living" - then rush off to town, where
supplies are swapped for hard won currency (with part of the game being to look very carefully at
"price per kg" labels).
Hence the supremacy of the supermarket setup.
Yes, for the moment, I am still here in France.
Contrary to the pretty TV images - most bread here in France is sourced from the supermarkets!
Local bakers have deliveries during the night of frozen dough from which arrives the famous baguette
- most are going out of business.
I agree, in most cases, bread, cheese, milk, beer, you name it, when produced in an artisanal manner
(read local) result in a product that fairs well when compared with mass produced, industrialized
foods.
Returning back to "local" honey - how does a major producer change his/her product into a pile of
Dollar, £, Euro etc. bills or cheques?
It is done by supplying others who specialise in transport, distribution and marketing.
If this is done in competition with others from wherever who also accept the recognised rules and
regulations - then fair is fair.
But if the organisations who are buying the "fair" produce really only want the cheapest, ignoring
the controls whilst purchasing such material - then commerce will suffer.
Small time advertising will be like blowing in the wind!
- "My honey is good, clean and just like grandpa used to sell - just come down the highway 400 km to
get it!"
I managed to get a hard won label pronouncing that honey produced by my bees in the National Parc
was "superb, well worth the buy" - and was able to stick a prestigious ticket on the pot saying so.
Still left me with 40+ tonnes of honey after saturating the local area.
Yes, I do see your logic, Jim - but if I put it into practice for all the honey my bees produced -
then I would have gone out of business several years before being possibly decimated by some other
substance used in our area.
I also believe in being able to supply the open market with a clean product that has a solid
reputation behind it. One that is not considered to cheat the purchaser.
I believe that processes that undermine this position should be opposed.
There are those who apparently , having purchased motor oil sell it as olive oil - AND have the
clientele believe it so.
Ten years down the road, who's going to believe my pretty protesting road sign?
Skeptic, me?
I just look under my car every morning before going out to get stung - first of all to make sure I'm
not going to flatten the cat, and then for brake fluid!
Peter.
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