Insurance needed?

[jay]

Hello,
This is my third year of working with bees, and I’m starting to have enough hives to have excess honey. The question I have is what type of insurance do I need if any? I typically sale my honey by word of mouth and at the locale bazaar. I’m thinking about maybe trying the farmers markets. What are others doing?
Thanks

[bulspider]

I couldn't get on this site for the last 2 years till I finaly upgraded my computer and was finaly able to get a password to get in.

on your question, depends on how many hives you have. you haft to go by the label laws and have a place just for extracting (your kitchen will not work unless that's all it is used for. for selling in a farmers market or stores. talk to your local Bee inspector and they will tell you what you need to do.

[01apricotapiaries]

I have been reading up on this quite a bit lately. The laws can be confusing.
As long as you are direct marketing your honey, you do not need any special facility or insurance. Direct marketing includes word of mouth and hand to hand sales, as well as roadside stands and farmers markets. You will need to check the rules on this one, but direct marketing can also include consignment through other farm related direct market outlets. For example if your neighbor or friend has an orchard with a fruit stand. Also, every farmers market can have its own regulations, so check with the markets you are pursuing. Also, you might have to get on a list if they already have a honey vendor.
If you have under 20 hives, Oregon law allows you to wholesale your honey under some "hobby" exemptions. I think you have to put something about being processed in a non-inspected facility on the label. If you have over 20 hives, and wish to do wholesale or sell through retail outlets, then your honey processing facility needs to be certified as a food processing plant. This is NOT a commercial domestic Kitchen. The plan needs to be approved, built, inspected, and certified.
Regardless of size and marketing, your honey needs to be labelled appropriately.
Here are a few links to help you out.
OSBA resources and regs page--scroll way down and you will find some related pages
orsba.org/resources_and_regulations.php
Standards of Identity (lebelling laws-honey is the second one down)
arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/bulletin/0312_bulletin/0312_ch603_bulletin.html
Find your local food inspector (different from county health inspector)
oda.state.or.us/dbs/sanitarian_list/search.lasso
www.oregonlaws.org/ors/616.683
www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/FSLicensing/Pages/WithoutLicense.aspx
Hope this helps!