Vermont Maple News

Welcome to the Vermont Maple Newsroom.  Below is the latest news concerning Maple in Vermont state, from announcements of Maple events to resources for sugarmakers.

Members of the Media are invited to browse our Media pages for contact information, maple press releases, maple facts, photographs, and more.

• Sugaring Reports for this Season

announced March 1, 2010

03/15/10 -- "Off to an amazing start of the 2010 sugaring season. First boiled March 1...as of March 11, I've made over 1/2 of what I normally make. We're small, 120 taps, but have made 16.75 gallons so far. An observation is a great deal of very light colored niter this year. Sap is not overly sweet, about 2%, but consistent. Flavor began just okay, but improved daily...beautiful maple flavor now." -- George Cook, Lamoille County

03/12/10 -- "The sugaring season in Southern Vermont has been in full stride for the past two weeks. A strong run on Tuesday (3-9-10) and smaller runs leading up to that day had producers scrambling but smiling. The ten day weather forecast isn't as promising, since warm days and nights means little or no sap. Many producers now have 25-40% of a full crop made. Those who waited to begin tapping trees until March first missed some good late February sap flows, but hopefully will make up the difference moving forward. Syrup quality has been very good. Many sugarmakers will be using the present pause in the action to clean up, re-group and get ready for the next run. If you are out and about this weekend and see vehicles at a sugarhouse, stop in - you may not see sap boiling, but there will be plenty of good syrup to sample." -- Dave Mance, Mance Family Tree Maple, Bennington County 

03/03/10 -- "First syrup of the season on March 1; only once have we started earlier. Made 2.25 gallons of Medium Amber; my 200 gallon storage tank was 4 inch from the top. Sap sweetness was 2.5 - 2.6%...not a bad start, we'll see if it holds. Moved approximately 175 gallons of sap through my 2x6 in about 5.5 hours." -- George Cook, Hyde Park

03/01/10 -- "We just started boiling today...not yet quite finished tapping! Sap is flowing quite well today." - Jacques Couture, Westfield, Orleans County"

03/01/10 - "Sugaring has started in earnest here in Southern Vt at lower elevations - upper elevations are digging out from snow storms. We boiled Friday then again last night - nice medium amber with grade improving. Most sugar makers have boiled at least once. Later this week is shaping up to be good for sap. Surprisingly, despite 18" of snow in the woods, the low pressure we've been having has prompted sap runs despite temps in the mid 30's. Nature's vacuum! -- Dave Mance, Shaftsbury, VT"

02/28/10 - "Tapped Saturday, Feb 27. Ran strong on Sunday, great day to get everything else ready. Well over 1/2 tank of sap waiting for me tonight.
-- George Cook, Morrisville, Lamoille County"