The honey R&P program operates as the National Honey Board. The Board is funded by an assessment on first handlers, also called packers, and importers of honey and honey products, and is administered by the Board with oversight from AMS.
The current assessment rate is 1.5 cents ($0.015) per pound and applies to all assessable honey and honey products handled domestically or imported into the U.S. First handlers and importers marketing less than 250,000 pounds of honey per year are exempt from paying assessments.
The purpose of the Board is to expand domestic markets for honey and honey products. The assessments are used to generically promote honey and honey products in the U.S. through research and development, advertising and promotion, consumer education, and industry information. The Board reimburses AMS and USDA’s Office of General Counsel for incurred costs and program oversight.
In May 2008, AMS issued the Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Education and Information Order, which created the program under the authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (pdf).
Organization of the National Honey Board
The 10 members and 10 alternates on the Board are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board consists of three first handlers, three importers, three producers, and one marketing cooperative representative, and their alternates. The Board’s composition may change periodically to reflect changes in the geographical distribution of the production of honey and the quantity or value of the honey and honey products imported into the United States.
The Board’s office is located in Erie, Colorado. You can access a listing of current Board members and alternates on the National Honey Board roster.
Visit the National Honey Board’s Web Site
Organic Assessment Exemption
R&P programs allow persons who produce, handle, market, process, manufacture, feed or import “organic” and “100 percent organic” products to be exempt from paying assessments on those agricultural products. Any exempted person remains obligated to pay assessments on conventional or nonorganic honey or honey products that do not qualify for an exemption.
Contacts
Director: Michelle Sharrow
Email: Michelle.Sharrow@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085
Branch Chief: Alexandra Caryl
Email: Alexandra.Caryl@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085