Packaging Your Honey

Large beekeepers can not turn a profit if they limit theirMost graphic designers recommend that the honey
market to their local community. Beekeepers whoshould run parallel with the container's base. Do not
have several colonies must be able to sell their productauthorize a label if the design does not incorporate
at larger grocery stores and supermarkets if theyyour name (or your farm's name) and your address. If
want to remain financially solvent.you use a packing or distribution company their name
In order for beekeepers to sell their honey to a largerand address must also be included on the label. The
market their packaging must meet certain USDAfinal thing that needs to be clearly printed on the label is
standards.the net weight of the honey. If the honey you are
The first thing beekeepers have to decide is what kindmarketing weighs between one to four pounds then
of container they want to use to hold their honey. Thethe weight has to be written in both pounds and
standard size of containers used to sell honey areounces. The print size used to show the net weight is
measured in pounds. The typical amount of honeynot random, the font size is determined by the size
offered to the customers can be as small an amountand shape of the container.
as a half pound or as large as five pounds of honey.If you are a beekeeper who harvests your honey
Some stores perfect to sell honey that is measured inmore then once a season you might be able to write
gallons, these stores offer their customers the optionwhat flavor of honey you are selling. You might have
of purchasing a container of honey as small as a halfhoney that is flavored with clover, alfalfa, or apple
pint or as large as one gallon. If, as a beekeeper, youblossoms.
are attracted to novelty containers you can chooseLabels that have words such as unfiltered, natural and
from a variety of fun containers such as skeps, bears,raw refer to honey that has not been processed.
and plastic squeeze bottles.Beekeepers who have USDA (United States
Once you have settled on the perfect bottle for yourDepartment of Agriculture) grades printed on the label
honey you have to design an equally perfect label.have passed a set of USDA grade standards. Honey
Before you start designing a label for your honeythat has a USDA grade of A has passed the exacting
check with your state government, most states havegovernment standards. Honey that has a USDA grade
several laws and requirements about how labelsof D has passed only a bare minimum of standards.
appear on products. Make sure that the word honey isThe USDA grades honey based on the amount of
written in bold letters across the label. The word shouldmoisture in the honey, clarity, flavor quality, and defects.
stand out and really catch the casual shopper's eye.