As much as I have run my mouth about dropping the dime I have a conumdrum involving that very issue, fortunately it is not NWCO related.

As many of you know I am a beekeeper in addition to NWCO. I am also the incoming president of my local bee club, Henry County Beekeepers Association. We are one of the largest and fastest growing clubs in central Georgia with over 100 families in it with many new beeks and plenty of visitors and interested folks attending each meeting. We pride ourselves in being the go to source for the new beek and put alot of emphasis on mentoring.
Well on to my dilemma. It involves honey production and sales. I am not a major producer, only six cases this year, and sell out my front door direct to the consumer. As such I am no threat to other beeks in the area and I want to keep it that way. I also sell at a few local venues such as an antique tractor/farm event this past weekend. I will have honey available for sale in Moultrie as well.
Well this weekend I became aware of a local mom and pop store not a mile from me selling FRESH LOCAL HONEY. Not a problem, I wish the guy the best of success but today when I stopped in to meet and greet and see who, how and what I found my dilemma.
Georgia as most states has certain requirements for the sale of food products and farm commodities. At my level and with direct to consumer sales I have the least of burdens, basically none. For retail sales though, as in the case of the mom and pop which is selling someone else's product, there are specific labeling requirement's. Mainly as a way for the consumer or the Dept of Ag to be able to contact the producer in the event of a problem. The short and sweet of it is if the consumer buys directly from me the producer then the consumer knows where the product originated hence no label needed if the consumer purchases the product from a third party retailer a label is required. There is also the issue of where the product is produced. If it is for retail sale then it must be produced in an approved and inspected facility, direct to consumer not. That portion is beyond the scope of my question.

Well, me being slightly anal about cya have taken the time to design and print up my own labels that more or less meet all the requirements for retail sales that I am not required to have since I do not do retail sales. Go figure, I'm funny that way.

The local mom and pop has sitting on their counter a case of pint mason jars containing an amber liquid of unknown origin as there is no label of any sort on it other than a price sticker. Lower than mine of course but as usual I am the highest priced guy in town, no worry I like it that way.

Now here's the kicker. I asked as to who and the name floored me. I won't name names here but locally this fellow is very highly regarded, heck I hold/held him in high regard myself. This ain't no newby or hobbiest that don't know no better, he's been into bees since Noah unloaded them off the ark. This is a state employee and a specialist in the field of beekeeping and education. We've had him out to the club numerous times as a guest speaker on all aspects of beekeeping as have many other clubs and state associations. He's even scheduled to be our speaker at next month's meeting!

So, do I drop the dime or don't I?

I want to hear your thoughts before I reveal my thinking.

I don't sell my own honey. There is never enough with 6 kids and now their families. But the labeling laws are similar.

We have a guy like that in my local market who is Mr Honeybee everything and he his own agenda. In the schools everywhere and he pushes his honery along the way.. He has actually formed three local associations and the problem is the last two associations ran him off.

Talk with him if you don't like his response begin cutting him out of official things like we did here.

Good Luck!

First step: It would be courteous to let your fellow bee keeper know. Perhaps, it is a misunderstanding.

Robb, that is basically what I intend to do. At this next meeting I am going ask our current president also very well respected to be witness to our conversation. I will politely ask him to pull all of his product and label it properly otherwise I in my power as president will never have him invited back as speaker and if need be speak with the presidents of all the other clubs in the area.

Robb, I do sell my honey and eventually the bees as nucs or queens. I'm trying to build my numbers for retirement so I can give up the ladders and road time. That's ten or more years in the future but the last thing I need to do at this stage is to rock the boat locally. I'm already marked as one to keep an eye on since I ain't never been one to keep my mouth shut.
I recently had a dust up with a local county mounty over my bees and had to back him down pretty firmly over my bees, right to farm laws trumps local dummies.
I'm trying very hard not to bump shoulders with my neighbors and so far so good. This weekend I was selling side by side with our local equipment dealer and my main lead source for bee removal and didn't have an issue.

I would not want to be in that situation.