Hello Chris & All,
Chris asks:
>Why is such pale honey so especially valued in the US?

To lighten the dark honey imported from Argentina. The usually combination
is 8 drums Argentina with 2 drums water white. The large packer is not as
concerned about taste as color.

Water white honey (true water white) is always bought by packers.

All honey is not equal in the eyes of packers. Despite what I read in the
bee magazine honey prices about "amber " bringing a higher price than
"white" I have NEVER been paid top dollar by a packer for an amber grade.( I
mean amber and not  light or extra light amber).
Also try to get a packer to buy orange blossom, buckwheat or many specialty
grades for his regular production and see what happens. Most will dock you
because of the amount of other honey needed to change the flavor or color.
Florida & California white orange has been used by packers to cut Argentine
honey at times.
In the old days in Florida packers bought many barrels of excellent orange
blossom to only blend out the orange blossom flavor. Once the specialty
market is at capacity what else can the packer or beekeeper do?
Of course when a specialty market exists for orange then the honey brings a
premium.
I will harvest a small amount of dark bakery grade honey but do not want a
warehouse full!
Most packers will take the time to educate the beekeepers which sell to them
exactly what they want in the way of honey.
Right now many simply want water white to cut the Argentine honey with. YOU
NEVER SEE WATER WHITE AS SOLD TO PACKERS ON STORE SHELVES!
At times beekeepers can simple let the packer know the amount of water white
honey you have got and the price and sit an wait. A friend got a dollar and
a dime last week for a large load. Took awhile before the phone rang.
Waiting for the market to go up is dumb. Instead let the packers know what
you have got and the price YOU are willing to sell the honey for . Then
wait.
 Most honey buyers are as hard to deal with as a used car salesman. They can
always top the beekeepers tales of woe and almost make you feel sorry for
all their problems.

Bob








******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at:          *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm  *
******************************************************

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.


-- 
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at:          *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm  *
******************************************************