How to promote more syrupmaking in my county

[unclejohn]

Our county in mid Missouri has lots of hills and creeks with sugar maples; many areas have been previously logged for oaks and hickory and ash, so the sugar maple population is growing. There are even some "suburban" areas around larger towns that were built in the forest with many maples. Although there are several producers in other parts of the state with up to 500 taps, there are currently no sellers in my town of locally made maple syrup at farmers markets or on Craigslist, etc.

I would like to get word out to maple tree landowners, even as early as this spring. I may even arrange a "Missouri Maple Syrup" information booth at an upcoming farmers market, handing out flyers, showing photos of our syrupmaking, showing spiles, sapsacks, filters, etc.

Our 2019 maple season was tremendous. Our family made 25 gallons from 210 trees in this our 6th year of production. We quit early because we had enough syrup and not enough firewood, and we got tired of all the mud in the woods.

Anyone have any ideas for getting more folks interested in syrupmaking, getting the word out? Thanks. John

[maple flats]

Expand your operation, introduce more efficiency and make lots more syrup. Then get out there and sell it, farmer's markets and maybe a local store or 2. When others in your area see you doing business others will want to get in on that "EASY MONEY" too. They will then start making syrup and find out both how much fun it is and that it is not so easy and how hard it is to make money on it. You must however retail it, it is extremely hard for a small operation to make money selling in bulk by the pound.

[DrTimPerkins]

You might want to contact the folks in the WV Maple Association. They've done a tremendous job over the past 5 yrs or so of growing the maple industry there, and would likely have some strategies that worked for them, and perhaps some that were less productive.

[unclejohn]

THanks Dr. Perkins.... do you have a name at the WV Maple Association whom I should contact? John

[DrTimPerkins]

https://wvmspa.org/contact-us/

[220 maple]

Thanks Dr. Tim for the kind words about the WV Maple Producers Assoc. Yes we have grown the Maple Industry in West Virginia, Uncle John from Missouri private message me thru this site I will give you my cell number, I will share some of my personal secrets on how to get help from the State Level if you would choose to use that avenue, once the WVDA joined the push we have accomplished a lot!. Just a brief list! Every top Maple Researcher in America has come to WV, Dr. Tim came to the Southern Maple Symposium just last September, With the Dept. of Missouri on board helping you a Mid West maple event with the cream of the crop of Maple Experts could be possible? Especially with the possibility of getting Acer Grant Monies from the USDA. I have been involved since day one of the WVMSPA, Dr. Tim even learned a new word saying from me at the Symposium last Sept. "Bumping a Tap Hole". It worked again this Spring Dr. Tim.

Thanks Mark 220 Maple

[unclejohn]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will PM Mark at 220 and get in contact with him. John

[unclejohn]

Hey 220 Maple, MapleTrader says you have exceeded your allotted memory for storing private messages. Go ahead and PM me with your cell number. Thanks. John

[DaveB]

Expand your operation, introduce more efficiency and make lots more syrup. Then get out there and sell it, farmer's markets and maybe a local store or 2. When others in your area see you doing business others will want to get in on that "EASY MONEY" too. They will then start making syrup and find out both how much fun it is and that it is not so easy and how hard it is to make money on it. You must however retail it, it is extremely hard for a small operation to make money selling in bulk by the pound.

Being visible is important. 10 years ago I sold at a couple of farmers market and virtually no one else was making making it. People would ask questions and when they realized that it could be done, they tried it themselves. Now I see several producers, including one guy whose gotten bigger than me! He has more time on his hands...

[Sugarmaker]

have a maple open house or a field day to get folks that are interested in syrup to your place. Mentor them and teach them the basic skills. You can do this!
Regards,
Chris