From: Pav <bobhog@pin.co.nz>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 23:49:21 +1200
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: The Bottom Line.

Okay, its time to weigh with something that i and others have briefly touched on, but
which the naysayers seemed to get final word on in my absence.

At 28/06/01 16:59:00, Joel wrote:
>When producers of honey which is less pure see their market
>share dwindling and their pockets getting slimmer, they also will change,
>or leave. I believe that this, and not laws or regulations, is what will
>eventually change the industry. If economics cannot change it, then I
>believe that nothing can.

And it's a lot more achievable if one can change gradually - via a graded organic scale. Having to try to make the leap in one season will mean some do not attempt to change at all - to the detriment of many many bees. The consumer is smart (well, there are exceptions!) - but they don't all follow the same doctrine. There is lots of grey between the black and the white. I wonder if the real reason a graded scale is not being considered is because its considered "too hard"?

>There is a change in the wind - it will not happen overnight but as you have
>said , the consumers are not dumb, and the way they spend their money as
>they become more educated (by US) will dictate how rapidly the industry as a
>whole will change.

I really do take issue with the all-or-nothing stand. I've seen it written that consumers are organic or they're not. Well... maybe because so far those are the options they've had?

Take vego's. Vegetarians vs non-vegetarians. You have your "ultra-idealistic,
dogmatic, ivory-towered, all-men-are-rapists, won't touch eggs, milk, honey(!) vegans", by whom i have been called a bee-exploiter, and your "red-necked, it-oughta-be-bloody-and-kicking, eat-a-vegan-a-day carnivores", by whom i've been called a tree-huggin' hippie. And EVERYTHING in between.

I have a friend that calls herself vegan. I quizzed her about it and she confessed to
exercizing her own judgement and values in the application of her veganism: "Of course i still eat honey!" she said (i introduced her to the joys Tawari, Rewarewa and Beech Honeydew - forget Manuka). Her vegan friend overhearing self-righteously declared "well you're not a TRUE vegan then!". If veganism required certification, Cathy would not be ALLOWED to call herself vegan, although aside from the honey-issue (hee, hee, hee my beekeepers devil-horns here - i CORRUPTED a vegan!), she totally is. How many 'vegetarians' do you know that will eat fish? Others won't, but will eat eggs...

In my experience people like choice. They can weigh up how much the ideal means to them, against what they are willing to pay for it. Currently the choice has been mass pulp, or expensive organic, and given that choice, which are most people buying? But what if there was a middle-road for a middle price - might it suit your middle-aged, middle-income, middle-of-the-road in ideology consumer? Think there's a market? I KNOW there is.

If we are going to insist on an all or nothing approach then we unnecessarily alienate the mainstream. The dogma and extremism is a large part of why 'organic' farmers are still frequently regarded as weirdo hippies with a chip on their shoulder. With a graded scale there need be no watering down of the high end - in fact it could be made tighter still, while having an achievable entry-level would encourage more folk to make an effort, and get more people starting down the organics road, as there will be financial payback even before they make the "Totally Organic 1A++"

And that last bit is what i regard as the most desirable of all, for the sake of the bees, the produce, the beekeepers, the consumers, and the whole blessed planet.

-Pav, putting his bottom online.