Elaine Parrish wrote:

> They are "diluting" it in a way. A lot of commercial honey is farmed.

It is all "farmed" in the sense that someone is managing the hives.

> Many
> man-made hives are "salted" with sugar to allow bees to produce with
> little or no nectar and many come with a man-made comb.

Not true, some are fed when used for pollination on nectar poor crops,
or early in the season to promote brood buildup, but not to produce
honey, it would be tough to do econimically. THe point in honey
production is to use the bees to collect an otherwise hard to collect
substance - nectar.

> It is also common
> for farmers to pull the honey several times a "growing season" which does
> does not allow for the seasoning that occurs when honey is left to "ripen"
> in the comb.

Not true, once the honey has a water content of 18% or so it is ready to
consume. This is about the point that bees "cap" it. No need for it to
"ripen"

This method of management also preserves individual crops of varietal
honey, and some folks like different varieties.

You might pick up a decent beekeeping book, there are dozens and they
are realtively inexpensive.

Keith