How much honey do you need to sell to a packer

[bee-nuts]

I am wondering how much honey you need to have to be able to sell it to a packer?  I emailed a couple this summer and one got back to me.  They did not really tell me if there was a volume requirement, only to send them a sample and that I would need to deliver it unless they were picking up in my area.

So I guess I am wondering what is the norm, at least a barrel, more?  It is unlikely I would come up with more than a barrel, and that is even unlikely, next year unless I have a monster flow but I want to know these things anyway.

I love working with honeybees and hope I can make a living from them some day.  I have plenty of land available to use in the near future so it is a matter of effort, personal ability, and luck i guess.

I have been told by the commercial folks I deal with that I need at least 300 colonies to scratch out a living and 600 is more like it.  You opinions on this matter will be appreciated.

thanks

bee-nuts

[Keith13]

interested to know the answer

[bee-nuts]

guess there is no answer

[homer]

There is a place here that will buy bulk honey in whatever quantity that you have.. as low as a 5 gallon bucket.  Granted you don't get much for it, but they will buy it from you.

[rdy-b]

One thing that Beekeepers dont have to worry about is getting rid of Honey-seams like there is never enough to cover the demand-so you know what that means  :lol: MORE bees   ;) RDY-B

[TwT]

the only thing when dealing with such small amounts like 1-2 barrels is it even worth selling it to a packer for your benefit, yes the honey will be sold at one time but at a price of $1.30-$1.50 (and that's a good price) a pound when if you sold it yourself you could make around $5.00-$6.00 a pound, to me if I had barrels of honey then yes it would be worth my wild to sale to a packer because I probably could sell that much myself but just a barrel or two I know I could sale that from home, on side the road or farmers market.

[Bee-Bop]

You need to go over and ask on the Commercial bee keepers board, they would be more apt to give a knowledgeable  answer.

I imagine the price would be, a result of your honey purity sample you send in, probably a lot more to it then us hobbyist can dream of.

A big factor I would guess would be your location, shipping charges, and handling/loading a 600# drum. (most trucking co. drivers don't help, they say they are paid to drive )

Good Luck
Bee-Bop

[mathispollenators]

They are more intrested in loading a truck with barrels  I'm not real sure but I believe it's 60 per semi.  What some of the guys here do is combine our barrels so the truck has one place to pick up. Or he can come to diffrent honey houses and pick up from us each until trucks loaded.  There is one packer local we can carry it too but the truck guys usally give little more.  But you could do way better selling a barrel or two bottleing it yourself.