Interactive lesson

Packing and selling honey, step by step

Interactive lesson: from a bucket of honey to the customer — the rules, jars, filling by weight, the label, batches and pricing, markets, the farm gate and posting.

Free sample Chapters 1 and 2 (8 steps) are free. The full lesson comes with the Packing and selling honey module. Already bought? Unlock

This lesson is general guidance, not professional training. Local regulations and expert advice always take precedence. Read our disclaimer.

The whole lesson as text

1. Rules first

A jar that leaves the house becomes food on the market.

Ask the authorities — Before your first sale, check what your way of selling needs. Ask in writing (email) and keep the reply.
Apiary registered — In Great Britain registering on BeeBase is voluntary but strongly encouraged; many US states and all Canadian provinces require apiaries to be registered. Check where you live.
Food business — Selling honey is a food business. In the UK you register free with your local authority at least 28 days before you start; in the US small direct sales often fall under your state's cottage food law or a honey exemption.
Tax and income — Honey income is declared as self-employed or farm income (HMRC, Revenue in Ireland, IRS and state, CRA). Ask about thresholds for registering a business and for VAT or sales tax.

Why: The rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the US states and the Canadian provinces, and they change often. An inspection, a complaint or someone's health problem will require records from you: where the honey came from, which batches, treatments and withdrawal periods.

Don't rely on "nobody checks around here".
How to register a holding is in H64-03, and the general rules for selling food are in H64-07.

2. Containers

Glass is best for honey: it lets no smells in and shows off the colour.

Three jar sizes — A 2 lb jar holds 907 g net, a 1 lb jar 454 g, an 8 oz jar 227 g. The 1 lb jar is the standard size at markets.
New lids and a seal — Twist-off lids with a food-safe liner, always new. A seal or label over the lid shows the customer the jar hasn't been opened.
Returned jars — Accept them only clean, wash and dry them like new ones, and always fit new lids.
A pail for bulk buyers — A food-grade bucket or pail of 14–27 kg (30–60 lb) is for bulk buyers, bakeries and large families.

Why: The jar size decides the customer: large for families, the standard size for markets, small for gifts and visitors. The lid and a tamper-evident seal tell the customer the jar hasn't been opened.

Plastic only food-grade: 2 HDPE, 5 PP, PET for runny honey. A rusty or dented lid doesn't go on sale.
If the rules or the inspector don't allow returned jars for sale, use them in your own kitchen.