VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR MAKERS’ ASSOCIATION
VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR MAKERS’ ASSOCIATION
189 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465,( 802) 858-9444, mgordon @ vermontmaple. org, www. vermontmaple. org
SUMMARY OF SEASON
The 2017 maple season in Vermont will likely be remembered for being long and drawn out, beginning in January for many producers and extending into April. Producers who were tapping during the early January sap run had the season last nearly nine weeks. For those who waited out the first runs of sap, the season was more typical in length. It seemed like the month of March behaved more like a cold February than anything else. While the production totals have yet to be finalized statewide, it does appear that the 2017 season was good overall. A few producers saw yields above last year’ s record crop while most operations finished the season around their long-term average. It appears that syrup flavor was excellent for most producers, with only limited reports of off-flavors received.
Overall, little off-flavors were reported this year aside from some early season metabolism in areas. Many producers
GOV. PHIL SCOTT and the Silloway / Lambert family of Randolph, Vt. on Feb. 28 for the 2017 tree tapping ceremony.
who routinely make Golden Color with Delicate Taste report that the overwhelming majority of their crop is Amber Color with Rich Taste or darker. Proving that every maple season is unpredictable in its own ways, other producers who generally make dark syrup found themselves making good quality Golden or light Amber in 2017. Sap sweetness reports varied across the state and overall production per tap seemed to be down slightly for most producers. Production in the Champlain Valley seemed to be excellent in 2017, especially for those producers in warmer, lower elevation locations. On the opposite side of the state, reports on the season are generally favorable with production levels near last year’ s record season. Some northern producers report making upwards of 35 percent of their crop during the January thaws. Snowfall was varied across the state and in many areas the winter, while not without snow, will be remembered for lacking significant snowfall. Colder northeastern areas of the state seemed to maintain snow in the sugar bush much later than other areas, reporting two feet of snow on the ground into early April.
Matt Gordon, VMSMA Executive Director
Mark Isselhardt, UVM Extension Maple Specialist
OFFICERS |
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EVENTS |
Pam Green Chair Rutland, VT pam @ greensmaple. com |
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Emma Marvin Vice Chair Lamoille, VT emma @ butternut mountainfarm. com |
Mark Bigelow Treasurer Caledonia, VT Mark. Bigelow @ bgfoods. com |
Don Bourdon Secretary Windsor, VT donbourdon @ comcast. net |
Maplerama 2017 August 3-5, 2017 Hosted by the Lamoille County Sugarmakers VFW in Hyde Park, Vt. |
38 U. S. Maple Syrup Almanac 2017