Nice bucket

[Louie]

Nice!


http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news04/north-country-maple-producers-gear-up-for-maple-weekend--20160311

[lpakiz]

Ouch!!!!!!!!

[Bucket Head]

That's unfortunate. We all need to police our equipment for this very reason. Several years ago Vermont magazine had a cover photo showing a guy dumping sap from a blue Valvoline Motor Oil pail. Closer to home, a producer had plastic pails hanging on their trees that originally had industrial floor wax in them. They were close to the road and everyone saw them. It was mentioned to me by several people who passed by them.

Unfortunately, this is the reason why the day of dreaded (and possibly production-ending) inspections and permits is coming.

Steve

[n8hutch]

That Hurts, How's that saying go? Here's your sign!

[wnybassman]

Dude!!!!!!!

[BAP]

I'm not sure what's worse, the oil bucket or the rusty, galvanized,and probably lead soldered tank. Neither are a good image.

[Louie]

That collection tank is not soldered, it is a 275 gallon heating oil tank on it's side.

https://www.facebook.com/Mosers-Mapleridge-Farm-327447270666295/photos?ref=page_internal

[325abn]

OH boy!!

I am wondering whats up with the bucket handles.

[Urban Sugarmaker]

Unfortunately, this is the reason why the day of dreaded (and possibly production-ending) inspections and permits is coming.

I think you are right. The "Do-Gooders" that legislate are going to come sooner or later.

[Moser's Maple]

Ok so let me jump in here to just be make sure this operation is not confused with ours. We are Moser's Maple LLC officially. It is me and my 2 brothers that own the business. Jake, Don and Bryan. We took over the business from our father Dale 5 years ago.
here's a link to our website
http://mosersmaple.com/
and our FB page
https://www.facebook.com/mosersmaple
We are located in Croghan, NY....not Copenhagen, NY which is about 15 minutes away. I know the producer personally that this and the oil tank gathering tub pictures are from. He is a very nice producer and respected producer , but with that said he is one of many "traditional" producers that is found in my area. I as acting Lewis County Maple Producers Association President have been aware of picture since March 10th. I have spoken numerous times with this producer about this picture and other practices and have explained in the most delicate way possible that pails and tub of this nature are not longer acceptable in the public eye. Now as producers we all know how you would feel if somebody came to your operation and began telling you of acceptable practices and equipment and how that would go over, and this was much the same case here. I'll admit that this is surely not great exposure for the industry, and for us members if the LCMPA, but unfortunately I was not contacted before this photo appearance to make sure that his operation was up to date with good food safe practices.
I can report since this article was written he does now use food grade pails for collecting, as for the collection tank I have no idea, because on my for my follow up visit I was not greeted with the warmest welcome if you are following my drift.
here's a pic from a recent new article of our operation.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news04/lewis-maple-producers-say-season-has-been-a-good-one-20160404
As you can see I screwed up too because I didn't double check the environment before the photographer began his photo session. The galvanized bucket you see in the back is by no means what we draw off our syrup in. It is placed under the hydrometer cup to catch the drippings because when we check for density out of the finishing pan we will flood the cup 2-3x to warm up the cup to get an accurate hot temp reading. I realize how this picture looks for the industry as a whole and for this I truly apologize for not being more cognizant of the environment around the evaporator.
As for the bucket handles they are simply threaded rod drilled through either a hard wood dowl or old hard wood handle. These are used primarily in our bucket producers because with a standard handle you have to reach down farther to pick up the handle. with the rod handle, it is always on top and after collecting 3000 or so buckets a day it saves on your back and legs

[Bucket Head]

Jake,

Don't beat yourself up on this. Yes, very unfortunate that this "publicity" is on the front page, but nobody knows what the local newspaper might photograph and publish until it's out there. You did what you could to correct the matter.
It doesn't matter how "traditional" anyone is, in this day and age you would think common sense would prevail when making a food product. Inexpensive food-grade pails are everywhere and suitable, used cage tanks can be had pretty easily too.
And I'm guilty here too. Many years ago when I started out I used some drywall mud pails for sap collection. Thinking back on it, it might explain why some neighbors never asked to buy my syrup.
Thanks for explaining the situation to us and thanks for trying to correct that producers practices.

And there's nothing wrong with the photo of your operation. I don't think anyone would have thought anything about the sap pail setting there. Everyone can clearly see your draw-off tank there. There is nothing alarming in that picture! Although Don does look "very deep in thought" there...lol.

Steve

[Galena]

To paraphrase Austin Powers: 'Ouch. Very ouch, baby.' I am both a writer and a photographer, so I can see that the photog was trying to compose a decent pic with that pour shot. However, there are so many instances of dubious materials being used, esp for sap storage and collection. The people I learned to sugar from still use ancient buckets with what is probably lead solder, along with newer; they store in a caged container. Hell, though I use aluminum sap pails, and food-grade buckets to collect in, and 15l water bottles to store it in til I run out of them. Then, I can and do use a 70l Brute garbage can - which has ONLY ever been used for sap storage outside when I get crazy amounts like 100l a day, thankya verra much. And I know I'm not the only one using non-food grade containers for short-term outside sap storage. Needs must.

[G263]

Speaking of Rubbermaid Brute containers. They are made out of "LLDPE" Linear Low Density Polyethlene. From what i have read so far it is an acceptable food grade product. I am wanting to collect my sap in 10 & 20 gal Brute container. Does anyone know about LLDPE and Brute containers for collecting?

G263

[tuckermtn]

Speaking of Rubbermaid Brute containers. They are made out of "LLDPE" Linear Low Density Polyethlene. From what i have read so far it is an acceptable food grade product. I am wanting to collect my sap in 10 & 20 gal Brute container. Does anyone know about LLDPE and Brute containers for collecting?

G263


do a search for "brute" on the upper right of this page - been discussed several times recently