Your labels are working outdoors this summer, just like you. From sticky jars and sweaty glass to sun-faded ink, summer farmers markets challenge every part of your packaging. Here's how to make sure your custom honey labels hold up beautifully and help your product get picked.
Make Sure Your Labels Can Handle the Heat
Honey and syrup products are often sold outdoors, where heat and humidity can wreak havoc on standard labels. To avoid curling, peeling, or fading, choose materials that can stand up to summer conditions:
- Polypropylene label films are water-resistant and durable in both hot and cold environments
- UV-cured inks reduce fading when exposed to direct sunlight
- Strong adhesives are essential for glass jars that may sweat or get sticky
Bonus tip: If you refrigerate your jars before display, make sure your labels can handle the temperature swing from fridge to table.
Size and Shape: Don’t Let Labels Get Lost
Your custom honey jar labels need to fit your packaging—and your story. Here’s how to find the right size:
- Front-facing round jars: Go with a rectangle or oval front label and optional top label
- Hex jars: Use a flat panel label that fits the front face cleanly
- Tall bottles (like for maple syrup): Consider a vertical wrap or neckband design
Keep text readable from a few feet away. Shoppers don’t lean in—they scan quickly. That means big product names, legible fonts, and smart contrast between background and text.
Example Label Setups That Work
- 8 oz hex jar: flat front label + top seal
- 12 oz syrup bottle: vertical front wrap + neckband
- 2 oz sample jar: round top-only label
These setups help you stay consistent across SKUs while making each product look intentional and easy to identify on a busy table.
Highlight Key Info Clearly (and Legally)
Both honey and maple syrup have food labeling requirements, but what really helps you stand out is how you present that info:
- Product name ("Raw Wildflower Honey" or "Small-Batch Vermont Maple Syrup")
- Net weight in both ounces and grams (required)
- Ingredients (even if it’s just one!)
- Contact info or website for brand credibility
- Optional extras: Harvest date, grade (for syrup), floral source (for honey)
For full food labeling guidance, the FDA’s labeling guide is a helpful reference.
Make It Memorable and Market-Ready
Summer farmers markets are full of sensory competition. Make your labels do double duty:
- Use color to cue flavor or origin (gold tones for clover honey, deep amber for darker syrups)
- Add a QR code that links to your story, recipes, or beekeeping process
- Finish strong with gloss or matte laminates that hold up to handling
If you’re offering samples, make sure your sample containers also use matching custom labels for honey or syrup, consistency builds trust.
Custom Syrup Labels Need Their Own Considerations
While many tips apply to both honey and syrup, there are some syrup-specific needs:
- Stick to vertical designs for glass syrup bottles with limited flat space
- Highlight grade and color (especially if selling to connoisseurs)
- Choose high-tack adhesives if the bottle has any texture or condensation risk
Maple, fruit, or infused syrups each have unique color and flavor profiles, your label design should reflect that. Custom maple syrup labels can be printed in vibrant CMYK to match your branding perfectly.
Summer Market Labeling Checklist
Quick-reference tips to make your label booth-ready this season:
- Choose water-resistant materials with strong adhesives
- Use UV-cured inks to prevent sun fading
- Select label sizes that fit your jars or bottles precisely
- Include all FDA-required info, clearly and legibly
- Use large, readable fonts and clear contrast for visibility
- Incorporate QR codes or short links to engage buyers
- Label samples with simplified, matching designs
- Finish labels with a laminate to protect against smudges and handling
Ready for Market Season?
Summer markets move fast, and your labels need to keep up. Clear, durable, and properly sized labels help customers spot your product, trust what’s inside, and remember your brand.
If you're planning to sell honey or syrup this season, start with quality custom honey labels that are made to hold up to sun, handling, and long lines.