“there has she been with her lion red body her wings of glass”

–Sylvia Plath

Why We Are Committed to Organic Management 

Note: Long Point Honey has been certified organic since its inception in 2010. However, due to grasslands reclamation work being undertaken by the Canadian Wildlife Service within its forage area, LPHC has suspended its certification for the time being. However, we are still employing all the principles and practices embodied in the certification process. I’m maintaining the following information on the organic regime for your information.

What Organic Honey Means:

In brief, certified honey will ensure:

That the bees have not been exposed to pesticides or herbicides within their forage area, a radius of 3 km from the beeyard (28 sq.km.). Bees will rarely forage beyond 3 km unless nectar is scarce. In the case of Long Point Honey, our forage area (located within Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Reserve) is a peninsula, therefore it is contained on three sides by Lake Ontario, and on the fourth side by a distance of 10 km from any crops that might use pesticides. Our few residential neighbours have signed an affidavit that they do not use pesticides.

That no synthetic chemicals are used at any stage of the beekeeping process. The certification process goes farther than prohibiting synthetic chemicals for the treatment of pests or diseases in the hive, and includes such things as non-toxic paint on the hives and organic cleansing products for honey extraction, the honey house and hive storage facility. As well, no synthetic materials can be used in the smoker beekeepers use to calm the bees during inspections. (We use dried sumac berries.) Certification standards specify that bees can be removed from the honey supers prior to extraction only through brushing, shaking or the use of bee escapes. 

That the nutritional value of the honey hasn’t been compromised by heating or filtering. Most people are aware that honey shouldn’t be heated, but the certification standards extend to the harvesting process itself. To remove honey from the frame, the outer layer of wax must be cut away. Organic practice requires a cold knife; some beekeepers use a hot knife for ease and speed, which heats the honey. As well, organic standards distinguish between straining and filtering. They allow for the straining of honey through a sieve to remove bits and pieces. Filtering, which is a more invasive process used to minimize crystalization, is prohibited.

That the standards are applied and monitored. The certifying agency requires significant record keeping on process and production and reviews them and other compliance issues during an annual site visit.