Honey production

Comb honey was the default until the 1900s. Extractors killed it. Now it commands $20-30/lb at farmers markets and production can't keep up with demand.

USDA grades honey on color, clarity, and moisture. None of those detect adulteration. Fraud testing requires mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Real honey costs $8-15/lb to produce. Grocery store honey sells for $4-6. That gap isn't markup - it's the difference between real product and something else.

The US imports more honey than it produces. Vietnam, India, Argentina, and Brazil are the top sources. Some of that honey's journey involves questionable stops.

Floral source, soil chemistry, processing temperature, and moisture content. Four variables explain why two jars of 'wildflower honey' taste entirely different.