process for selling honey locally (sall-scale) ....?

It is very state dependent. Here in PA there are a ton of hoops to jump through (kitchen inspection, license, labeling) then after you do that you need to think about liability and insurance.

I have a friend that runs a high-end brew pub. He has told me "I will buy all you can sell me". Problem for me is that I don't have enough product that when I do a cost/benefit analysis I come out on the good side yet.

Growing every year and selling to friends and family to cover expenses. Next year may be the year it makes financial sense.

Go online to your state government site and search for the sales requirements. It is very state dependant. You need to follow your state labeling and processing requirements not federal labeling.

Thx, guys; I figured there'd be the usual regs involved. I'll ask some local beeks too (maybe; I'm not sure if they like the idea of competition -- although where mine would sell wouldn't be in the same kind of place theirs would). Wanted to access the Forum 1st to get input from the experienced.....

Mitch

https://www.ncbeekeepers.org/resources/labeling

Most current information on labeling honey for sale in NC.

the label is the easy part. One of the hard parts is the connection with a store; sweet that you have gotten past that hurdle!

Please take care that your honey is low enough in moisture that it will not ferment. Below 18.1%. You should invest in a honey-scaled refractometer to measure this. Just because honey is capped does not mean it was actually dehydrated enough. You don't want your label to be linked with fermented honey...

And consider putting some information on a label sticker about crystallized honey - something about "when it crystallized, or hardens, the honey sugars have changed form, it is not spoiled or fermented. It is reversed with heat, place in very warm (110 degree) water for 2 hours to reverse the process. Or enjoy on bread or crackers!" Something like that.

link for details on de-crystallizing: https://ashevillebeecharmer.com/honey-tips/how-to-decrystallize-raw-honey/

link for details on honey moisture level and fermenting: https://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?244710-High-moisture-content-in-capped-honey and https://www.reddit.com/r/Beekeeping...ed_honey_may_not_be_as_ready_as_you_think_it/

I had honey that was probably 65% capped, which I placed in a small room with a space heater. I ran it for 12 hours, aiming for 90 degrees. The refrac said btwn 18-19% when I started it - and said 17-18% when I closed shop. Honey was in the singe super that I had.

Another beek I know extracts, then places a bucket-warmer around a 5 gallon bucket. He leaves it at 90 degrees for a week. He gets moisture levels lower than 17%. https://www.thecarycompany.com/pail...gle_shopping&gclid=COq05ZfQ3-ICFQX34wcdCywCsg

That's pricey - actually I think he made a honey warming cabinet. He's a woodworker.

Anyways, some food for thought. Good luck!!!!

I got about as much honey last year as you are expecting. Maybe a little less. People were offering me cash, but by the time I gave out my first year's honey free samples (excited to actually get honey), and have enough for myself, and then making mead I am far, far in a deficit at this point. A few gallons isn't even worth worrying about. I barely even had enough for the mead itself!

Now I'm hoping to get at least as much honey this year as last, but it's not looking so hot. I wished I saved a couple of jars more...

jimbo3 said:

... and have enough for myself, and then making mead I am far, far in a deficit at this point....

Click to expand...

Mead seems like such a waste of honey to me. Especially given that I've never had any that came close to being as good as even cheap beer.

Save the honey and use it as honey. And buy good (or even so-so) beer. You'll be ahead.

For me it's easier to just sell out of my house through word of mouth, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. No need to jump through all the hoops to be able to sell it in stores. Plus you can charge the full retail price and not have to discount it.