Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Mead Lovers Digest #1548
Subject: Mead Lover's Digest #1548, 15 October 2011
From: mead-request@talisman.com
Mead Lover's Digest #1548 15 October 2011
Mead Discussion Forum
Contents:
organic and the FDA, another oxymoron (Michael McClatchey)
Re: Mead Lover's Digest #1547, 10 October 2011 ("The Bannisters")
organic honey? ("Ed Vendely")
NOTE: Digest appears whenever there is enough material to send one.
Send ONLY articles for the digest to mead@talisman.com.
Use mead-request@talisman.com for [un]subscribe and admin requests.
Digest archives and FAQ are available at www.talisman.com/mead#Archives
A searchable archive is at http://www.gotmead.com/mldarchives.html
Digest Janitor: Dick Dunn
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: organic and the FDA, another oxymoron
From: Michael McClatchey <mmmcclatchey@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:38:24 -0400
IMHO, just because something has an FDA-approved label saying it's organic
doesn't tell me anything. They've allowed so many exceptions that their use
of the word has become meaningless. "Walmart organic", it's known in the
trade, although no one will say that in their marketing literature.
------------------------------
Subject: Re: Mead Lover's Digest #1547, 10 October 2011
From: "The Bannisters" <bannister5@shaw.ca>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:51:15 -0700
Re:...well, the whole honey thing
Here's a site you all might be interested in:
http://www.truesourcehoney.com/
This is the future of honey for us apiarists, so as consumers you may
want to be aware of what it means. I suspect there will be more of these
programs put in place around the globe very soon.
As for organic, ART & Dick covered some excellent ground. There will
always be someone willing to lie and cheat about their product; that
doesn't automatically mean everyone will. Yes, anyone used to be able to
call themselves organic and there was no way to prove it but that is
changing rapidly. The restrictions in place for organic certification
now are hard to meet but worthwhile. In 2009, we had a big change to our
Standards that forced many of the cheats out. Food using the Canada
Organic label or being sold to other provinces/internationally must meet
far more stringent requirements than ever before, and I doubt it will
get any easier. Buffer zones and soil and water tests are just part of
what it takes to go organic but really, why would you want to go any
other way?
Cheers,
A. Bannister
------------------------------
Subject: organic honey?
From: "Ed Vendely" <Ed@sweetbettybees.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:06:18 -0400
Continuing the conversation about organic honey, it would be next to
impossible to attain USDA Organic certification for honey in the USA
unless located out in western states where there may be enough
individually controlled acreage that would be needed for controlled bee
forage without pesticide/herbicide treatments, etc. However, it is
allowable to use the term "Organic" on labeling for producers selling
under $5,000.00 per year and assuming they follow the basic organic
practices and guidelines under USDA regs. Most Certified Organic honey
available for sale in the US comes from outside the USA , like
Australia/New Zealand, etc. I agree that "buyers beware" of anyone using
the term "organic" and just be sure to do diligence on their practices.
An excellent alternative to USDA organic certification is offered by
another organization, Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). They have fairly
strict guidelines laid out and require fellow beekeepers police each
other through yearly inspections by two other CNG beekeepers. More info
on this certification program and listings in your area of CNG approved
apiaries can be found on the website http://www.naturallygrown.org/ .
This program follows organic practices but with real world practical
situations taken into account. There are not many CNG listings for good
reason. It's not easy to manage bees successfully under these strict
guidelines.
Ed Vendely
www.SweetBettyBees.com
------------------------------
End of Mead Lover's Digest #1548
*******************************
