Honey Stick Machine Boosts Beekeeper Profits

Honey Stick Machine Boosts Beekeeper Profits SPECIALTY/SERVICES For the past decade Wayne Flewelling has helped beekeepers make about $55 per quart of honey with his Honey Stick Making Machine The sticks - straws filled with honey or flavored honey - typically sell for 25 cents each A quart of honey fills about 220 straws and Flewelling’s machine fills between 300 to 500 straws an hour “I built a machine in 2003 for myself because I wanted to make my own honey sticks ” he explains When other beekeepers wanted them he started building them and demand continues to grow His setup includes a manifold with nine chrome-plated valves to fill the straws a sealer hot plate pump and box of 2 500 straws for $395 – the same price he charged 10 years ago when he first set up his online store The honey is heated to 120 to 140 degrees so that it can be pumped into the straws Individual valves shut off the flow and the impulse sealer heats up the straw ends to close them Besides honey some customers use the machine to make straws filled with maple syrup or concentrated cherry juice The machines have been shipped all over the U S and to other countries He also offers a variety of concentrated natural flavorings used in wine and beer including favorites such as chocolate peach root beer and watermelon “Honey straws are great for diabetics to carry Also joggers and bicyclists like them for a quick energy boost ” Flewelling says adding they are also a healthy snack option for children and adults Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Wayne Flewelling 3117 E 261st St Quenemo Kan 66528 ph 785 221-4756; www honeystickmachine com; wayne@johnwaynehoney com

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