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Meet the Brix Balancer. New D&G machine balances the density
Peter Gregg | December 15, 2020
LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—Meet the Brix Balancer.
Ever had to add permeate to a barrel of syrup because your brix was too high?
Last season researchers at Cornell's Uihlein Maple Research Center had an opportunity to demo a Brix Equalizer by Dominion and Grimm.
The innovative unit has a digital in-line brix meter that measures the finished brix of syrup after being drawn-off and filtered, but before being packed into a barrel.
A digital touch panel screen allows the user to set the desired brix level and if the unit reads a brix higher than the set point, it will inject a little permeate water from a small tank on the machine.
[ MORE ]
Finding Home Farms wins national award
Peter Gregg | December 8, 2020
GREENVILLE, N.Y.—A New York sugarhouse won a national award for its innovative rye barrel syrup.
Finding Home Farms, owned by Dana and Laura Putnam, won the Product of the Year from the Specialty Food Association’s 2020 Sofi Awards.
The rye barrel aged maple syrup was chosen in a blind taste test, selected by a panel of specialty food experts from nearly 2,000 entries across 39 product categories. This product is made in collaboration with Orange County Distillery, a farm distillery based in Orange County N.Y. [ MORE ]
Got 'sick' syrup? Find out why
Peter Gregg | November 26, 2020
WESTFORD, Vt.—Got sick syrup? Find out why.
The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association will be conducting a virtual diagnostic on submitted syrup, helping sugarmakers identify bad syrup and its causes.
The online session is called “Tele-Maple Medicine: Why Does My Syrup Taste Sick” and part of the weeklong 2020 Maple Conference Week Dec. 6 through Dec. 11 hosted by the VMSMA and the experts from the University of Vermont maple program.
The VMSMA has been seeking two ounce samples of off-flavor syrup and panelists will create a live show, tasting and diagnosing the issue. [ MORE ]
Branon Family Maple Orchards unveils pouch packaging
Peter Gregg | November 17, 2020
FAIRFIELD, Vt.—Branon Family Maple Orchards is the latest operation to come out with pouch packaging.
Called “Maple to Go!” the family farm says the new packaging system “allows maple lovers to bring pure Vermont maple syrup along with them wherever and whenever they travel.”
“We had people tell us they wanted to bring our maple syrup with them whenever they went someplace, but they couldn’t justify lugging a pint jug around,” said Cecile Branon, co-owner of 80,000-tap Branon Family Maple Orchards located in Fairfield, Vt.
Maple to Go! is a 3.4-ounce (100 ml) food-grade pouch of organic Grade A amber/rich Vermont maple syrup with a re-closable, no-mess twist cap that allows for multiple usage. [ MORE ]
Leader Evaporator and H20 Innovation partner up
Peter Gregg | November 11, 2020
MASON, Mich.—Leader Evaporator Co. and H20 Innovation will start carrying each other’s equipment at their respective U.S. dealerships.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” said Leader’s chairwoman Mary Fogle Douglass, owner of Sugar Bush Supplies in Mason, Mich., a major Leader dealer.
Douglass hosted her annual fall open house virtually on Oct. 24, where she made the H20 announcement.
“We thought about what things we are missing and how people can get it quickly,” Douglass said.
Some of the big ticket items that Leader dealers will start carrying are H20’s line of large size tanks.
“They have a huge line,” Douglass said.
[ MORE ]
And then there were none... Last of the winter maple shows canceled
Peter Gregg | October 29, 2020
SYRACUSE, N.Y.—And then there were none.
The last remaining scheduled winter maple shows have now been canceled.
The 2021 New York Winter Maple Conference has become the latest maple event to succumb to the COVID -19 virus. Also canceled this week, the Wisconsin Winter Institute hosted by the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association.
The WMSPA will instead be hosting a virtual edition of the event, with a large agenda of educational seminars via Zoom. [ MORE ]
‘Tree Water’ company looking for permeate suppliers
Deborah Jeanne Sergeant | October 28, 2020
KATONAH, N.Y.—Asarasi Sparkling Tree Water is looking for more permeate.
The three-year-old water company has landed a deal with beverage giant Anheuser-Busch and is looking to add to its maple permeate supply base, said company founder Adam Lazar.
Asarasi has also collaborated with Goose Island Brewery producing the world's first 100% plant-based beer called Tree Water Pilsner with Anheuser Busch and the product sold out in under a week, Lazar said.
"This opportunity continues to lead to more significant volume sourcing and we are excited to bring this opportunity to all New York State Maple Producers," he said.
Asarasi said it is looking for permeate suppliers of 5,000+ gallons in any given maple season, Lazar said.
Interested producers can check out supplying opportunities at www.asarasi.com/permeate-supplier PASSWORD: PERMEATE [ MORE ]
Syrup sales through the roof at retail this fall
Peter Gregg | October 14, 2020
WOODSTOCK, Vt.—There’s a maple gold rush this fall.
“Our mail order has been through the roof,” said Ralph Luce of Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, Vt. “We would typically see maybe 40 orders per month, we’re now getting 150 or more.”
Luce and the entire Luce family were scrambling over Columbus Day weekend tending to the crush of tourists to the 10,000-tap mountaintop farm, flocking to buy syrup and cheese and see the spectacular foilage.
“We’ll have thousands here this weekend,” Luce said, during a tour for The Maple News.
He said crowds were coming from more regional locations like New York and Boston, theorizing that tourists were opting for local fall vacations due to the pandemic.
Crowds were good about wearing masks, Luce said.
“We’re trying to keep people outside and spread out,” he said.
Luce said since the spring syrup sales have been stronger than ever.
[ MORE ]
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