This was my first year extracting and selling any honey and I was sure suprised by the demand. I started questioning if maybe I needed a health dept. cert or anything. I was reading on the wsda website that I may infact need to be inspected by them and then they need to do two unnanounced inspections per year. My question is what have others in Washington found they need to do to be legal? I ask because where I do my extracting is only used for that purpose for maybe one week per year.
Be aware that you will be charged for each inspection they do. Here in Colorado its $350 a visit plus per diem...so if you want to invite them in know what you are asking for... :scratch:
I am not really wanting to invite them in I am just curious if I need to. I have some local fruit stands and such that would like some honey. If I sold to them I would need a label with my name on it and I am wondering if I would then end up with a unpleasant situation with some state agency.
I don't think you have to worry about it. Most beeks that sell honey locally don't that I know of. If you were going to run a big bottling company and sell nationally then I would think you would need to, but for selling locally and at farmers markets I think you are ok.
I'm sure that every state is different. Here in Oklahoma we have to bottle our honey in a certified commercial kitchen and have a license to sell the honey retail. If I was just selling from my house then I wouldn't need the kitchen and permit. But when I take my honey to the Farmers' Market and Craft Shows is has to be extracted and bottled in a licensed and inspected facility. Check with your health department they should be able to advise you, altho health inspectors are like beekeepers - they each have their own opinion.
My advise is not to bring in problems. It is easier to ask for forgviness and not knowing. Please do not stir up a can of worms for us washington beekeepers We fly under the radar
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!