I am curious as to the proper way to investigate the legal issues with honey extraction and sales to the public in Pennsylvania. I have looked on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's website and saw the requirements for selling honey at a Farmer's Market. I do not need a license to sell at the market but a Retail Application Review must be submitted to PDA. It also goes on to state that items may be required by the Local Health Dept. however this does not pertain to my area.I also searched and found the Honey Extraction Guidelines also on their website. My question is: Does my honey extraction area (I'm to small for a honey house as of this time) need to be inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture or anyone else? I have only extracted a small amount of honey (under 50 lbs.) and am unsure if I can legally sell it or give it to friends as presents. Any help in the right direction will be greatly appreciated.
It's simple....first, realize that the moment you produce something for sale...your a COMMERCIAL operation the moment you sell to the public. Just because it is honey, or your selling a small amount, does not change that fact.
You can sell from your own property (like a farm stand) with as little as a "approved kitchen" facility. This is usually for those selling from their property and perhaps a one time church sale, etc. The requirements such as a three bay sink, dedicated hand-washing sink, etc., can be waived. But a water test, your 35 dollar application, and other requirements must still be met.
Once you lose control of your product (In other words....start selling on someone else's shelves,) you must have an approved honey processing facility.
It seems many beekeepers want to sell at markets and grocery stores, yet get all bent in demanding that they be seen as something less than a commercial operation. Producing for your family and friends is one thing. Selling to the public, regardless of when, where, or how, is seen by the state as a commercial operation.
PA's food laws have gotten way out of whack.....Like outdoor BBQed Chicken now has to be done, covered, under a tent?? What next, sides on the tent(the wind could blow something on the chicken you know). So why not just say any outdoor BBQed chicken will now have to be done indoors? I am for much less Government...If I do not like the fact that Real Outdoor BBQed chicken is BBQed OUTSIDE!, I do not have to buy it...I can decide that without any help. I have spoken to some of the very people that put these laws into effect and they had no idea even what they voted into place. To make it simple they just lumped ALL food (processed or unprocessed) into one law. Honey is not a potentially hazardous food product. The laws could be tweaked, some states exempt up to a so many pounds, but someone will have to ask for that to happen.
Anyone with two hives is going to sooner or later have more honey then their friends and family can eat. So what are they to do with it? In my town there is no way I can get permission for a "Home Food Processing Business" in my home (the first requirement on the application). I do not see that the old rules were not working, labels with your name and phone (make a requirement it must be sold within a 10 mile radius), of course the commercial beekeepers in PA maybe look at small beekeepers as competition (they sometimes sell their honey too low) and they had more say in these changes then the small keepers.
Jim