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Soaking old sap in pans an effective cleaner
Peter Gregg | July 14, 2020
HEBRON, N.Y.—It’s nasty and stinks but it works.
The old school way of pan cleaning after a season—letting last-day-of-the-season sap soak in the pans for five or six months—has been a proven method.
This season at The Maple News sugarhouse in Hebron, N.Y. we tried it for the second year in a row. We have had success after much smell enduring.
In April, we filled our pans and Steam-Away with skunked sap to the brim.
Through the spring, a bubbling, green, oozing crust grew like a science experiment.
By early July it transformed into an almost pleasant, brown cidery vinegar. [ MORE ]
Aunt Jemima brand of 'pancake' syrup to be discontinued
Peter Gregg | June 25, 2020
PURCHASE, N.Y.—The number one competitor of pure maple syrup—Aunt Jemima—will soon be no longer.
The fake syrup category leader has fallen to the Black Lives Matter movement and the brand will be discontinued, according to the corn syrup’s parent company, The Quaker Oats Company, owned by Pepsi Co.
“We recognize Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a racial stereotype,” said Kristin Kroepfl, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Quaker Foods North America.
The company said it will remove the image of Aunt Jemima from its packaging and change the name of the brand sometime next year.
[ MORE ]
Syrup producer making hand sanitizer in response to crisis
Peter Gregg | May 7, 2020
JEFFERSON, Ohio—Hand sanitizer could be the latest value-added crop from maple.
One Ohio producer is waiting for FDA approval to start distilling commercial grade syrup into ethanol as part of a recipe for a maple-based hand sanitizer.
“The demand for hand sanitizers is ridiculous,” said Nathan Bissell of Bissell Maple Farms in Jefferson, Ohio.
Meanwhile, Bissell has converted his idled syrup packing line into a hand sanitizer packing line, responding to the COVID-19 crisis and high demand for the virus killing product. [ MORE ]
Bascom's reopens for drum deliveries
Peter Gregg | May 4, 2020
ALSTEAD, N.H.—Bascom Maple Farms reopened their docks today, allowing sugarmakers to bring their crop for delivery, but by appointment only.
“Due to the unusually large amount of drum traffic yet to come in we are requesting producers call for a dock appointment,” said Bascom’s owner Bruce Bascom.
Field buyers for Bascom will also be deployed this week, and will be looking for syrup. [ MORE ]
Spring tick season expected to 'explode'
Peter Gregg | April 30, 2020
MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—Tick activity this spring is expected to explode, according to a Vermont sugarmaker and power lineman who trains personnel on tick safety.
“Springtime, April and May, we usually see a large tick explosion,” said Michael Christian, a sugarmaker from Orwell, Vt. and a crew manager for the state’s Green Mountain Power company, who has spent decades fighting ticks and establishing safety protocols for power line crews.
“By the end of June or July they go back in the ground,” Christian said. “Then they come back in September to feed again.”
Christian led a seminar at the Addison County Maple Conference in January where sugarmakers shared their defensive tactics and horror stories of other sugarmakers contracting Lyme disease and other chronic illnesses associated with tick bites.
[ MORE ]
Bascom's suspends bulk syrup buying for April
Peter Gregg | April 6, 2020
ALSTEAD, N.H.—The nation’s biggest out-of-field bulk syrup buyer is suspending operations for April due to COVID-19 concerns.
Bascom Maple Farms, the New Hampshire farm where sugarmakers flock from across the Northeast to get paid on the barrelhead, said it would immediately cease buying any syrup until early May at its facility.
The company, which also deploys buying agents across the Maple Belt from Ohio to Maine, had already suspended field buying until early May as well.
“Unfortunately, due to world events beyond our control, effective immediately Bascom’s will not be purchasing any maple syrup for the rest of April,” the company announced Monday.
“We anticipate reopening for purchasing syrup around May 4, 2020, but please call ahead to confirm,” the company said. “Recommendations from the CDC, WHO, and State Governments are changing constantly and could affect a reopen date.”
[ MORE ]
Season Update #8: Syrup flying off the shelves at grocery; season progresses
Peter Gregg | March 24, 2020
ALSTEAD, N.H.—Syrup is flying off the shelves at grocery stores as panicked shoppers stock up for shut-ins against the Coronavirus.
“Grocery syrup sales are very strong and we are struggling to keep up with orders,” said Bruce Bascom of Bascom Maple Farms, one of the biggest grocery suppliers in the U.S..
“Consumers are hoarding food at home," Bascom said. "Maple syrup is a comfort food so if they have to eat at home it is logical that more pancakes and waffles with maple syrup is just what the doctor ordered.”
At the Hannaford supermarket in Greenwich, N.Y. and other places around the U.S., store shelves where syrup usually is stocked were completely wiped out.
“Retail grocery is very strong,” said David Marvin of Butternut Maple Farms in Morrisville, Vt. another leading grocery supplier.
[ MORE ]
Season Update #7: Dealerships vow to stay open during COVID crisis
Peter Gregg | March 20, 2020
MASON, Mich.—Big equipment dealers are staying open during the Coronavirus crisis while trying to maintain a social distance.
“Open for business,” declared Sugar Bush Supplies in mid-Michigan in a blast email to customers on Thursday.
“During this critical time of production, we want to be available to meet your supplies and equipment needs,” the store said. “At the same tome we are implementing all the prudent cautions necessary to protect you and staff from the COVID-19 virus.”
The national crisis shutting down America came during the peak of maple season, where producers are still running to dealerships for sugaring supplies and repairs.
“We are encouraging our customers to place their order ahead of time instead of waiting in our showroom,” said Benoit Pepin, USA manager of Lapierre Equipment, which operates a typically thriving store in Swanton, Vt.
Most dealerships were following the same protocol.
[ MORE ]
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