Harvest Tracking and Quality Documentation
Honey production in Kora provides comprehensive harvest management. Record harvest dates and quantities. Document honey quality characteristics. Track processing methods and batch numbers. Manage storage and containers. Support market requirements with traceability. Ensure treatment compliance through withholding verification. Detailed harvest records support quality assurance, premium market access, and batch traceability from hive to consumer.
This section explains how honey harvests are documented. What quality information is tracked. How production records support market access and food safety.
Honey Harvest Recording
Documenting each harvest creates permanent production records:
Basic Harvest Information: Harvest Date (when honey removed from hives). Quantity (amount harvested: kilograms, pounds, litres). Frames Harvested (number of frames extracted). Supers Harvested (number of supers removed).
Example harvest record:
Honey Harvest - Summer 2024 (First Harvest):
Hive: MV-003
Harvest Date: 2024-07-15
Quantity: 32 kilograms
Frames Harvested: 18 frames (2 supers, 9 frames each)
Supers Harvested: 2 honey supers
Harvest Details:
Both supers >90% capped. Honey fully ripened (moisture content acceptable).
Clean extraction, minimal brood contamination (honey supers kept above
queen excluder). Strong clover flow produced light-coloured honey.
Harvested By: John Smith
Honey Type and Floral Source
Documenting honey characteristics:
Honey Type Documentation: Honey Type (floral source: wildflower, clover, orange blossom, manuka, etc.). Colour (light amber, dark amber, golden, etc.). Flavour Notes (taste characteristics when known).
Example honey type tracking:
Spring Harvest (Fruit Tree Bloom):
Honey Type: Mixed fruit tree honey (apple, cherry, pear bloom)
Colour: Very light, nearly water-white
Flavour Notes: Delicate, mild flavour. Premium spring honey.
Market Value: High (early season honey, limited production)
Summer Harvest (Clover Flow):
Honey Type: White clover honey
Colour: Light amber
Flavour Notes: Classic mild clover honey. Sweet, light flavour.
Market Value: Standard (most common honey type, reliable seller)
Late Summer Harvest (Wildflower):
Honey Type: Mixed wildflower (aster, goldenrod, late-season flowers)
Colour: Dark amber
Flavour Notes: Robust, stronger flavour. Rich, complex taste.
Market Value: Moderate (darker honey, smaller market but dedicated customers)
Honey type documentation supports marketing, pricing, and consumer information requirements.
Quality Metrics
Recording honey quality parameters:
Quality Measurements: Moisture Content (percentage water in honey, ideally <18%). Colour (standard colour classifications). Grade (quality grade: Grade A, B, etc. depending on jurisdiction).
Example quality documentation:
Honey Quality Assessment - Harvest July 2024:
Moisture Content: 17.2%
Assessment: Excellent moisture level (<18%). Honey properly ripened.
Low fermentation risk. Meets premium grade requirements.
Testing Method: Refractometer measurement
Colour: Light Amber
Assessment: Desirable colour for clover honey. Light colours generally
command premium prices.
Colour Classification: USDA Light Amber standard
Grade: Grade A (USDA Honey Grading)
Criteria Met:
- Moisture content <18.6% ✓
- Free from defects ✓
- Good flavour and aroma ✓
- Proper processing (no overheating) ✓
Quality Summary: Premium quality honey. Light colour, low moisture, Grade A
certification. Suitable for premium retail marketing or
bulk sale at top wholesale prices.
Quality metrics support pricing decisions and market access requirements.
Processing Information
Documenting how honey processed after harvest:
Processing Documentation: Processing Date (when honey extracted and processed). Processing Method (raw/unprocessed, filtered, pasteurised). Batch Number (unique identifier for honey lot). Storage Location (where honey stored). Container Type (jars, buckets, barrels).
Example processing records:
Processing Details - July 2024 Harvest:
Processing Date: 2024-07-16 (day after harvest)
Processing Method: Raw, coarse-filtered only
Process Notes: Honey extracted from frames using centrifugal extractor.
Strained through coarse filter removing wax particles and
bee debris. No heating applied (maintains raw honey status
for premium market). Natural enzymes and pollen preserved.
Batch Number: KOR-2024-SUMMER-001
Batch Composition: All honey from Meadowview Apiary, clover flow,
harvested July 15-16, 2024. Mixed from hives MV-001
through MV-018 (18 hives total).
Storage Location: Main barn, temperature-controlled room (15-20°C)
Storage Container Type: Food-grade 5-gallon buckets (airtight lids)
Number of Containers: 14 buckets (approximately 32kg total yield)
Processing Equipment Cleaning: All extraction equipment cleaned with hot
water before and after use. No chemical
residues. Food-safe practices followed.
Batch Traceability
Linking honey to hive sources and harvest dates (see Chapter 12 for comprehensive traceability features):
Traceability Information: Lot Number (unique identifier linking honey to harvest). Traceability to Hive (which hives contributed to batch). Harvest Date Range (when honey harvested). Treatment Compliance (verification honey harvested outside treatment withholding periods).
Example traceability documentation:
Batch Traceability - Summer Honey 2024:
Lot Number: MV-2024-SUM-CLV-001
Meaning: Meadowview Apiary, 2024, Summer, Clover, Batch 1
Source Hives:
MV-001 (14kg), MV-002 (18kg), MV-003 (32kg), MV-004 (12kg),
MV-005 (21kg), MV-006 (28kg), [continues for all 18 contributing hives]
Harvest Date Range: July 15-16, 2024
Geographic Origin: Meadowview Apiary, Johnson Family Farm, [GPS coordinates]
Floral Source: Predominantly white clover from surrounding pastures and
wildflower meadows within 3km radius of apiary
Treatment Compliance Verification:
Last Treatments Applied: No treatments within 90 days of harvest
Withholding Period Compliance: Yes (no active withholding periods)
Treatment-Free Status: Hives not treated in spring/summer 2024.
Fall varroa treatments planned post-harvest only.
Safety Certification: Honey harvested from hives with no recent treatments.
Safe for consumption. Exceeds required withholding
period compliance.
Traceability Chain: Hive → Harvest Date → Batch Number → Container/Jar
Complete chain from colony to consumer package
Market Information
Recording sales and pricing data:
Market Documentation: For Sale (whether honey available for sale). Price Per Unit (wholesale or retail pricing). Market Grade (commercial grade for bulk sales). Organic Certified (organic certification status). Certification Number (organic or quality certification references).
Example market information:
Retail Honey Sales - Summer 2024 Batch:
For Sale: Yes
Price Per Unit: $12 per 500g jar (retail)
Market Grade: Premium (raw, local honey)
Wholesale Price: $6 per 500g equivalent (bulk pricing)
Organic Certified: No
Status: Not certified organic (treatment used in fall 2023, certification
requires 12-month treatment-free period). Pursuing organic
certification starting 2024 season for 2025 certification.
Marketing Description:
"Local raw honey from Meadowview Apiary. Unfiltered, unheated, preserving
natural enzymes and pollen. Summer 2024 harvest, predominantly white
clover. Light amber colour, mild flavour. 500g glass jars."
Sales Channels:
- Farm gate sales (50 jars)
- Local farmers market (100 jars)
- Co-op retail outlet (80 jars)
- Direct online sales (20 jars)
- Bulk to local bakery (5kg, wholesale pricing)
Before/After Treatment Harvest Timing
Ensuring honey safety relative to treatments:
Treatment Timing Verification: Harvested Before Treatment (Yes/No). Days Since Last Treatment (time elapsed since treatment application).
Example treatment safety documentation:
Safe Harvest Timing - Summer Harvest:
Harvest Date: 2024-07-15
Last Treatment Review:
Last Treatment Applied: 2023-10-15 (fall varroa treatment, previous year)
Treatment Product: ApiLife Var (42-day withholding)
Withholding End Date: 2023-11-26
Days Since Treatment: 243 days (well beyond withholding period)
Harvested Before Treatment: Yes (pre-fall treatment harvest)
Next Treatment Scheduled: 2024-08-20 (post-harvest varroa treatment)
Safety Status: Honey harvested well before any treatment application.
No treatment residue possible. Safe for consumption and
premium/organic market sale.
Treatment Planning Impact:
Summer harvest timing chosen specifically to avoid treatment withholding
issues. Harvest completed mid-July. Fall treatments begin late August
after all honey removal complete. Strategy ensures honey quality while
enabling effective pest control post-harvest.
Production Analytics
Tracking productivity across hives and seasons:
Productivity Metrics:
Hive-Level Production Comparison (2024 Season):
Top Producers:
MV-003: 50kg total (2 harvests: 32kg + 18kg)
MV-006: 46kg total
MV-001: 42kg total
Average Top 3: 46kg per hive
Mid-Range Production:
MV-002, MV-004, MV-005, MV-007 through MV-015: 28-38kg per hive
Average Mid-Range: 33kg per hive
Lower Producers:
MV-016, MV-017, MV-018: 18-22kg per hive (new colonies, first-year)
Apiary Total Production:
18 hives, 630kg total honey
Average Per Hive: 35kg
Total Market Value (retail equivalent): ~$15,000
Analysis: MV-003 identified as top producer. Colony has excellent queen,
strong population, calm temperament. Use MV-003 for queen rearing
in 2025 to propagate productive genetics.
Year-over-Year Comparison:
2022: 28kg per hive average
2023: 32kg per hive average
2024: 35kg per hive average
Trend: Improving productivity through better management and queen genetics
Honey Storage and Inventory
Tracking honey from harvest through sales:
Storage Tracking: Storage Location (physical location of honey stores). Container Type and Count (how honey packaged). Inventory Status (how much honey remains unsold).
Example storage management:
Honey Inventory Status (September 2024):
Total Harvested: 630kg (summer 2024 season)
Storage Breakdown:
Bulk Storage (5-gallon buckets): 400kg (8 buckets, wholesale ready)
Retail Jars (500g): 200kg (400 jars packaged, labeled, ready for sale)
Reserve for Personal Use: 30kg (retained for family use, gifts)
Sales to Date:
Retail Jars Sold: 180 jars (90kg sold)
Wholesale/Bulk: 100kg sold to local bakery
Current Inventory:
Remaining Retail Jars: 220 jars (110kg)
Remaining Bulk: 300kg
Total Unsold: 410kg
Storage Conditions:
Location: Temperature-controlled barn storage (15-20°C)
Container Condition: Excellent (airtight, no crystallisation issues)
Expected Shelf Life: 12-24 months minimum (honey virtually indefinite
when properly stored)
Integration with Hive Records
Honey harvests link to hive management:
Hive → Harvest Relationship:
Hive MV-003 - Production History:
2024 Harvests:
└── July 15: 32kg (summer clover flow)
└── August 25: 18kg (late wildflower flow)
Total 2024: 50kg
2023 Harvests:
└── July 20: 28kg
└── September 5: 15kg
Total 2023: 43kg
Three-Year Average: 47kg per year (top producer consistently)
Queen Performance Correlation:
2024 queen (introduced April 2024): 50kg production
2023 queen: 43kg production
Analysis: New queen showing improved productivity. Excellent laying
pattern and colony strength translating to higher honey yields.