Anybody have experience selling and collecting pollen, how did it go?
What volume/weight sold the best for retail? What did you sell it for?
Did you sell it wholesale in larger sizes? I'm thinking about 1 lb bags? What prices could you get?
How did you process the pollen? When you weighed the pollen, was it before freezing or after?
Thanks
This is a question i have asked several times. It usually does to receive many replies if any. I don't know if folks don't handle it as a product much or it is considered a well kept art. I have wanted to dabble in it myself but i don't quite understand the market. I do have some e-mail responses I will dig up that were private Pm's and such. Some from the owner of ross rounds/sundance pollen traps.
You got the number of replies I suspected zero.... so here is what I got from Lloyd Spear:
Mr. Spears,
I contacted you last Aug. about the processing and selling of pollen. You were kind enough to send me the pollen processing flyer and said I would probably have more questions.
Well it is about that time of year and I have had the sundance II trap 5 or more years and am yet to put it on a hive.
I hope that by now you have closed the bottom entrance and put duct tape over any 'holes' that the bees could use as an entrance and that you have a top entrance.
Basically due to ignorance of what to do with the pollen after I trap it, processing wise. I hope to cross that hurdle this year.
A couple more questions please:
Processing-
I plan on placing the pollen in a container in a frost free freezer. I understand you leave the top off the container. Can you palce it in a plastic type container and drill holes in the top and get the same effect?
Yes, but you will need more drying than what this can give you in a few weeks. I put my pollen in a five gallon bucket, without a top, and keep mixing the pollen.
If you continue to add more pollen to the container as you dry it in the freezer how do you know when it is dry enough and not too dry?
The pollen will be dry enough when you can gently rub some between your thumb and forefinger and it stays in balls and does not crush into a powder. You probably cannot attain this level of dryness in the freezer. I take mine out and put it on window screens in a room with a fan. During the summer it takes 3-4 days to dry; in the winter with hot air heat it takes 24 hours.
Do you seal it and keep in in the freezer after you reach your desired dryness and this prevents it from drying more?
Yes.
Selling:
How do you package for sale? A ziplock bag or jar I suppose either.
Yes.
I guess you have to leave it in the fridge or freezer until time to sell?
Yes.
When you take it out to sell @ market or store do you keep it in a cooler?
No.
I suppose it can not be left on a shelf outside the freezer or fridge as in a store shelf?
That is right.
Will it sweat as it warms to outside temps?
Yes.
What does fresh pollen fetch now on market? Seems like $1 per ounce?
We are charging $32 a pound and can sell every ounce. I know of others charging $45 a pound.
What do you think is a fair price to a health food store for resale?
I would only sell if they also carried my honey and if I got the most desirable display. Then it would be $20 a pound.
I am guessing the health food store will have to keep it in the freezer or fridge?
Yes.
And which is best for stroe freezer or fridge?
Freezer.
second e-mail:
Thanks, I hate to be dense but.....
>I put my pollen in a five gallon bucket, without a top, and keep mixing the pollen.
Is 5 gallon Pail In the freezer?
Yes.
>I take mine out and put it on window screens in a room with a fan. During the summer it takes 3-4 days to dry; in the winter with hot air heat it takes 24 hours.
Even after this method does it have to go back in the freezer?
Yes.
Thanks for sharing that, Steve.
>Anybody have experience selling and collecting pollen, how did it go?
Yes. Collecting it requires retraining the bees to go through the trap. After that it goes fine. Until they get the hang of it, it's a bit chaotic. Profitability selling it varies, but I think it's useful to have on your table just for the questions it generates.
>What volume/weight sold the best for retail? What did you sell it for?
Do an assortment and see how it goes. Some people want a lot, some just a little. I think it's more interesting to eat it fresh (not dried) but that requires keeping it frozen and selling it before it spoils or dries too much. You kind of need a container that breathes if you try to sell it fresh as you will get condensation otherwise and it will spoil quickly. If it can breath it will just dry out over time but not spoil.
>Did you sell it wholesale in larger sizes? I'm thinking about 1 lb bags? What prices could you get?
I haven't sold a lot. I've used it to feed bees more than I've attempted to sell it. But I think the local market will drive what you do and certain customers. You may get one or more that want larger quantities. Or you may not.
>How did you process the pollen?
The pollen from the Sundance II (top trap) comes out very clean. When I had bottom traps I would get a box fan and set it on low to start and winnow the pollen (let the breeze blow off the bee parts). You can play with the distance and the speed of the fan to get it right. If you dry it, it is easier to keep, but not as tasty to eat.
>When you weighed the pollen, was it before freezing or after?
After.
Those are a couple great replies. Thanks so much for writing it out for me. It is really interested how quiet the forum is when it comes to pollen.
It's probably quite due to a lack of experience. What little pollen I've ate was unpleasant. So that leaves me to think it's a health food sale or something. Interesting topic though.
The first time I tried pollen, I had a sneezing attack. I was allergic to one of the variety of pollens in there. Luckily it was only severe sneezing for an hour or so.
I decided I wouldn't be selling pollen for liability reasons. Of course the buyer should be aware, and with proper warning & precaution you might not be liable. Perhaps most people who consume pollen are well aware of the risks.
Our bee club had a speaker last year who talked about collecting and selling pollen. He put pollen trap on after honey flow and would collect enough to make over $100 per hive. He said he used a small fan to clean it and dried it trays in a van that set out in the sun. He has his hives in Ky. And has built up a client base of health food types.