by Jo Edmondson
The only honey I can tell you for certain that is pure and unadulterated, is our own. One of the reasons we became beekeepers was because we wanted pure honey and, at the time, we didn't personally know any beekeepers. We are adventurous and do not mind hard work and, so we embarked on this journey together. It would take us two years of study and research before we would buy our first hives and packages.
With that said, I found myself looking at the many jars of honey on the shelf in our grocery store the other day and I was astounded by the number of jars labeled "organic". That word brings with it an increase in value, a higher status and claims of health benefits that the labels without it just seem to be lacking. Just think about what it means to you and how you feel about the products you purchase or refuse to purchase because of it. Either way, we can all agree that the word itself carries weight.
When it comes to honey, that word doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Rest assured you'd be just as likely to be justified in your purchase of a jar of organic honey as you would your purchase of oceanfront property in Arizona. If you know your geography or your country music, then you are still with me and want to know more. If you don't, then take a look at a map, turn on a country station and then come back.
So why can't we have organic honey? Simply because we have no exact idea of where our bees land and get their nectar. Bees have been observed flying upwards of 5-7 miles from their hive in search of food, but generally foragers fly about 2 miles from the hive. This makes it nearly impossible for honey to be labeled organic by USDA standards. Notice I said "nearly", because I guess if you have an apiary in the middle an organic farm with at least a 7 mile raidus to any outside crops, then you could possibly have organic honey. If you buy that, I'm sure Mr. Strait will throw the golden gate in free!
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