Expensive honey?

[homer]

I went to the local farmers market today because I had heard there was someone there selling honey.  I am getting bottles in this week to fill with honey and am struggling with deciding how much to sell them for.  I figured that I could get an idea from this gentleman at the farmers market by looking at his prices.

I was rather supprised to see that he was selling 8 oz glass jars for $5 and 24 oz bears for $12.  Honestly that seems like a lot of money for the quantity but I figure that he must be getting it if he's still there this late in the year and that's what his prices are.

What do you think of these prices?  I was hoping that I could get people to buy the 24oz squeeze bottles for $7 and 16oz squeeze bottles for $5.  I know the price per oz is better in the larger size, but I would think that I'd be able to sell more of the 16oz size....just for the fact it is less money overall and a 5 dollar bill is much easier for people to deal with than a 7 dollar bill  :-D

[sc-bee]

Different areas different price ranges. Also has to do with type of customer, flea market crowd or health food buyers. Folks would laugh at me at those prices but down the road twenty miles a man sell @ a produce stand for 16.50 quart. Mine are usually ten or so. I usually just deal with pints. Went up to $6 this year, jars have gotten ridiculous. The range in my area is $5--$8 for pints(22oz) with most people around $6.50 or so.

[Kathyp]

PNW honey prices are up this year because we didn't get much.  check your area.  don't under price your stuff.  not only because you sell yourself short, but because you want to develop a regular customer base and if you have to jack prices up next year, they'll get sticker shock.  if you want to undercut your competition, keep your prices lower, but close.

remember that people pay more for natural-raw, etc.  it's like organic and brown eggs  :-D  you are doing them a favor.  you make them feel good!

[rdy-b]

Lots of times the honey at the markets is being resold-And if that is the case the price goes up -everyone must met the Bottom line or they wont be sustainable-sad to say this but there are many poseurs out there-RDY-B

[Bees-in-Art]

Its very annoying when a beekeeper vastly undersells their honey - there isn't a need to do it. It's a premium product so ask for a premium price - you'll get it - but obviously find the price that sells. Professional beekeepers often complain about amateurs lowering the value of honey.
$10/Ib sounds reasonable depending on the type of honey. Here in the UK heather honey retails at about $12/Ib or more. But that's because to connoisseurs it's the honey of honeys and costs more to produce as well.

Andrew

[JP]

I would heed Kathy's advice Homer if you will be competeing with that particular vendor, keep your price close for that location. I sell my 12oz squeeze bottles for $5.00.


...JP

[homer]

if you want to undercut your competition, keep your prices lower, but close.

I'm not looking to undercut anyone, I just want my honey to be easy to sell.  Those prices seem like they would be hard to get but seeing as how I've never sold honey before.... haybe they won't.  I will likely sell for less than his prices, but not for the purpose of undercutting.  I don't even think we are competing with each other to be honest with you.

[thegolfpsycho]

Just an hour south of Smithfeild, I never had a problem getting 7.00 per pint, 12.00 per quart.  Last year, health problems overwhelmed my beekeeping efforts and I didn't make much honey.  The guy that grabbed my customers charged them 8 and 14, and nobody griped.  I only have a few colonys this year, but should have have a decent crop.  Prices are going up.

[beecanbee]

Please take this as an aside - as I am sure it will not help you.  But just for perspective, with my cerana bees - where I get one to two quarts of honey on average per year per hive - I sell for $30 for an 8oz jar.  In a bad year, I have sold for $70.  Before I sell for less, I give it away to appreciative friends and relatives.

I believe that the mellifera stuff that is imported from China is selling for about $12/quart.

So I would echo - don't sell for less than you can get - unless you really have no one to give it to come Christmas.

[Wynoochee_newbee_guy]

I got butkiss on honey this year looked at my pathetic amount of honey and said wellgirls you worked hard for it you get it this year. a bad year for honey for me.

[luvin honey]

Its very annoying when a beekeeper vastly undersells their honey - there isn't a need to do it. It's a premium product so ask for a premium price - you'll get it - but obviously find the price that sells. Professional beekeepers often complain about amateurs lowering the value of honey.
$10/Ib sounds reasonable depending on the type of honey. Here in the UK heather honey retails at about $12/Ib or more. But that's because to connoisseurs it's the honey of honeys and costs more to produce as well.

Andrew

I SO agree! I sell produce at the farmer's market, and it annoys EVERYbody (well, maybe not the customer :)) when somebody comes in at a much lower price. When you consider the time, $ and effort, plus a fresh, quality product, please don't underprice your honey. People should not pay as much or less $ than in the grocery store since they are getting a completely different product from you (fresh, unadulterated, local, farmer's face right there).

I would suggest starting at your competitor's prices and then moving one direction or the other from there based on your sales. If you have a higher or lower quality product (please, no offense intended), then you can adjust accordingly. Sometimes my produce truly is not as nice as everyone else's and I put a lower price on it, sometimes just the opposite. Good luck!

[alflyguy]

I sold my first honey this year. I sold pint jars for $6.50. I thought that was high but everyone here said don't sell to low. I sold out very quickly. Maybe I should have asked for more.

[giant pumpkin peep]

If I can I am going to try and sell oney next year. I was thinkling of selling $5lb ,4 dollers for 12ox bottle. But that is a year away. I am going to do a little snooping around farmers markets to see whats it going for.

[Natalie]

beecanbee that is a lot of cake for honey. Good for you, I cannot imagine getting anyone to pay $30.00-$70.00 for honey.
I have to agree though that too many beeks are underpricing their honey.
Always ask a little higher than you think that you can get for it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
If people are balking at the price you can always lower but give it some time first.
Remember that it is alot easier to lower your prices than it is to raise them on your customers later.
I sell fresh eggs from my hens and I get more than twice what stores are charging for them and I cannot even meet my demand.
The farm that sells my eggs for me suggested the price and I thought no way was anyone going to pay that but they said well just give it a try and see how it goes (this was at a spring festival they were hosting and they gave me a table) I sold out of all my eggs (30 dozen) in an hour or so and left with orders for more.
If I hadn't taken that leap of faith I would have missed out on what the market is very willing to pay.
This is why I say to charge more than you think they will pay. Making your jars attractive always helps as well.
I have been known to spend a little more on something that looks nicer sitting on my pantry shelf if its going to be something that is going to be around for a while.

Homer,
If it were me I would sell the 16 oz for $10.00 and if you are really concerned about making change for people (although I doubt it will be that much of an issue) then I would charge $15.00 for the 24 oz.
The other guy is getting $12.00 for it which may be a fair price on it but if you want to keep the change to a minimum then you could try the $15.00 price but make your jars attractive.
I would not limit both sizes to the sqeeze bottles, not everyone likes them. I would either offer at least one of them in a glass jar, perhaps the bigger one and you could make nice labels for them and charge the higher price I mentioned.
If you are selling through a farmer's market then you can do alot to attract people to your table( ob hive, leaflets with bee info, fact sheets, trivia, recipes, honey straws) etc. and get them talking, it will give you a chance to discuss the merits of your honey and I doubt too many will walk away without buying something.

[beecanbee]

I cannot imagine getting anyone to pay $30.00-$70.00 for honey.

For cerana - where what can be harvested is limited by the smaller bee - $30 for 8oz is more or less the going price among beeks.  At our annual BBQ - all sells out at that price.  Being multifloral, the taste is more complex - and in blind taste tests - wins out over single flower honey.  I generally do not sell - but hope to be able to do so some day with my new melliferas.

[Dubhe]

for beecanbee;  I'm intrigued that you keep ceranae.  Are they kept in Langs or some other configuration?  Obviously varroa aren't a major problem, but what pest and disease issues do you have?  How much honey is left on after the season?  Are europeans kept in Japan?

Regards

[beecanbee]

ceranae.  Are they kept in Langs or some other configuration?  Obviously varroa aren't a major problem, but what pest and disease issues do you have?  How much honey is left on after the season?  Are europeans kept in Japan?

My pests in sequence of importance are: (1) me, (2) wax moth, (3) hornets, and on occasion the (4) Death-Head Hawkmoth.  I never use any medications except outside of the hive (for ants).  I do feed just as one does mellifera.

(1) Me: Cerana don't like to be inspected so much, thank you – and will abscond if over managed. Need to be careful to frame new natural comb before it gets too hot and the comb falls.
(2) Wax moth will become a problem if the hive is not cleaned regularly (but be careful of the me problem.)
(3) Hornets take special techniques, and generally a blend of them including nets, reducers, and traps.
(4) The Hawkmoth can block the entrance, just as can fallen natural comb – causing wax moth opportunity.

I use a hive body that looks like a Lang that has been stood on its side - that is, it is tall and narrow, holding ten frames.  I also use a same-sized upper (supper) for a very strong hive (maybe one out of 4 in a good area).

I harvested last Friday – obtaining 9 liters from 8 hives – this was my annual harvest.  This represented maybe 15 frames.  I never take as much as half of what could otherwise be harvested.  Some take it all and the hive fails, but volunteer swarms arrive come spring.

All commercial beekeepers keep the mellifera.  I have four mellifera hives from this spring and am just learning as I go.