Lesson 10:

1) Production of fine quality honey.

2) Attractive containers and labels for the honey.

3) An effective advertising program.

4) Dependable service for customers.

To produce high quality honey only extract honey that is ripe. A beekeeper can tell if the honey is ripe if the honey has been sealed in the comb. Thin or unripe honey that contains over 18.5 % water will usually ferment. The beekeeper should not damage the honey by using lots of smoke or too much fume on the fume boards in taking off honey supers. It is also important that the honey is not left above the escape for more than two or three days. Never store honey in a damp room (where moisture is in excess of 65 % relative humidity) as it will absorb moisture, deteriorate in flavor, and then ferment.

All extracted honey should be strained before it is bottled. If the apiary is small and the honey must be strained without heating, it can be strained through three layers of cheese cloth or nylon. Honey heated to 120 F or higher can be strained through a fine mesh bolting cloth, or nylon that is 80 mesh or finer. Heated honey is left to stand for several hours after it is strained so the foam can rise to the top of the tank where it is skimmed off before the honey is bottled.

Most honey is sold in glass containers as liquid honey. Some honey is sold in tins, comb honey rounds, and squeeze bottles.

Select a jar that is attractive in design, has a wide top and does not tip easily. Straight-sided jars with the opening as large as the body of the jar are best for creamed and chunk honey. An oval-shaped jar is good for liquid honey since it makes the honey appear lighter in color.

Labels are also important since they may or may not attract the attention of the shopper as they walk through the market place and may make or lose a sale.

1. Attract attention and be fairly bright in color.

2. The word "Honey" should be large and easily read from a distance. Other lettering on the label is printed smaller since it is the honey that is being sold.

3. The label should be small enough to show the jar's contents to advantage.

4. The label's shape should conform to the jar.

5. Gummed labels save time when labels are being placed on the jar.

6. Labels should include the net weight in pounds and ounces of honey in the jar, floral source, country of origin and the name and address including zip code of the packer or producer. This is required by law.

There are many ways to sell honey. The most favorable way is through a grocery store. The grocery store offers a large outlet for honey. A large display in stores is a effective method to increase sales. The greater the number of objects for the customer to look at and the demonstrator to talk about, the greater the interest shown and the sales obtained.