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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
"BOGANSKY,RONALD J." <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 20 Jul 2000 14:15:12 -0400
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Hello All,
BeeL is suppose to be a discussion of honeybee biology.  As someone who has
been educated in the field of biology I would  find discussions, that most
would probably find boring, interesting,.  However, BeeL has evolved into
something more than that.  Ideas, facts, thoughts, and, of course, opinions
about bees and all aspects of beekeeping are shared here.  It not just a
place for anyone to jump in and ask a question that has been asked and
toughly discussed a few months earlier.  (There are other lists for that.)
When this happens Allen kindly reminds us (as he should) about the archives,
and that one should do their homework before posting.  When I relay
information I learned on this list to others, I don't say "I read on the
Internet", I say "A friend of mine told me".  Maybe I am taking liberty here
but that is the way I feel.  I have received enough personal messages from
list members over the years to know I am right in that we are friends.  I am
thankful to be part of this group of beekeepers.

So at the risk of filling the archives with one more post of opinionated
drivel, here I go again.

Curtis Spacek wrote:
"if we all sell honey to the general public for $2.00 per pound this would
severely undercut the supermarket prices of $3-5.00 lb. which would in turn
cause the supermarket chains to demand an even lower price from honey
packers to compete with beekeepers."

$3-5.00 lb supermarket price, wow, things are bigger in Texas <grin>.
Average supermarket price everywhere I have been is $2.25 to 2.50, with
store brand generic running at or below $2.00.

Curtis, I see where you are going but it just won't work.  Trying to
undercut a packer is like wrestling a pig in the mud.  After a while you
begin to realize they enjoy it.  For the most part they are not beekeepers
and their whole business revolves around buying low, selling high, and
dealing with the competition.  I can't compete with them and I don't want
to.  They will always find someone willing to sell them honey cheap enough
to allow them to keep them going.  If you limit their sources, as some would
suggest by stopping imports, that may help but I don't think it is the way
to go.  There will always be ways around that and I don't wish to deprive
any beekeeper a chance to sell their honey.

I am firmly convinced that cutting prices only hurts the beekeeper.  I
believe the answer is to distance ourselves from those who pack and sell
cheap honey.  It is a sin to produce a quality product and sell it cheap.
My son started cutting grass for a neighbor.  He cuts two acres and is paid
by the hour.  Because she is not always home he keeps his own hours.  He
told me it took him five hours but he would only charge four.  I asked if he
worked all five hours.  The answer was yes but he thought if he charged her
too much she may ask someone else.  I went over and inspected the job.  It
was excellent (he never does this well at home).  I told him so and to
charge what he is worth.  If she can find someone willing to do the job for
less, then she has the option of hiring them.  However, I think doing it in
less time the quality will suffer and she would be disappointed.

IMHO, there are three things that govern what a consumer will purchase:
Price, convenience, and quality.  If your product can provide two out of
three of these you have a winner.  Lately, supermarkets in my area started
selling precooked meals.  They are appealing to folks who would like a home
cooked meal but don't have the time to prepare one.  They cost much more
than it would to prepare it on your own but they are convenient and good.
People are willing to pay more for this service.

I think American beekeepers have a good product.  Most of our floral sources
produce great tasting honey.  Selling it here as domestically produced
should bring a premium.  However, I am not suggesting that just because
imported honey is cheap it is of inferior quality, or just because honey is
produced domestically it is always superior.  The consumer will make that
decision.  My argument is that they need to be informed and then allowed to
choose.  I think some folks will buy honey strictly by price alone, others
will spend more money for specialty or local products.  The trick is to
educate the consumer on the difference and then allow them to choose.  An
uninformed consumer, that thinks all honey is the same, is probably one of
our biggest problems.

I am sure some will disagree, but as always, it is what I think.

Ron Bogansky

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