Companies tap into Vermont’s large maple potential (after fracking ban, here come crony capitalists)

Associated Press ^ | Mar 21, 2015 6:22 PM EDT | Lisa Rathke

[Olog-hai]

Already, Vermont is maple syrup capital of the U.S., with production traditionally being a side business for farmers. Could a large-scale operation, tapping into thousands of acres of maple trees in a remote northeastern part of the state, be as sweet?

This isn’t the old galvanized-sap bucket-nailed-to-a-tree type of operation. This is industrial-sized maple. And companies know there’s rising demand for natural sweeteners as consumers turn away from products made with high fructose corn syrup.

Sweetree LLC plans to become the biggest producer of the sticky-sweet stuff in North America. Though the operation has created full-time jobs in a poor region and says it will boost local producers by also buying certified organic syrup, the move has also generated some curiosity and concern from those in the maple business in a state that yielded $49 million worth of syrup in 2013.

The operation, backed by Wood Creek Capital Management of New Haven, Connecticut, chose northeastern Vermont because of the state’s brand and large tracts of high-elevation land, which isn’t as affected by climate change, Sweetree CEO Bob Saul said. …

[VTenigma]

They’re talking about above 2500’asl where no development activity is allowed (except for denuding ridgelines and decimating bear habitat for wind turbines). Good maple producing stands do not exist at these elevations. They’re also probably talking about the Champion lands where in the past 10 years even human foot traffic has been prohibited. Libs are nothing if not hypocrites.

The land closures by the state and feds in VT are going to bite us soon as the forests are becoming tangled and choked. We are set up for massive forest fires and do not possess the technology to deal with them as does the west. The result of a major forest fire in VT will be a disaster only seen in the most devastating fires in the west.

[Mears]

“Are you Howie Dean; YEAH! ?”

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:-)

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[hinckley buzzard]

Indeed. Here in Ohio we are in the midst of syrup season, going strong now with the recent warmup. Altitudes around 1000 feet, more or less, on the average. Only "climate" effect so far has been the extreme cold of February delaying onset of the sap flow.

I'm guessing someone paid this a--hole to say that rubbish about climate change. There have to be dollars and cents reasons for situating where he is.

[hinckley buzzard]

They aren't "nailed" to a tree, they are hung on spickets. They have a loose fitting lid to keep rain or snow out. In widespread use around NE Ohio. Just saw a bunch of them in Geauga County yesterday.

[Ray76]

That's old school.

Each tap is connected to tubing running to a central location. The sap is taken from there to the sugar house where it's cooked into syrup. Here's some pictures I found.

Here's a collection tank

At least that's how it's done in New England