Big govt coming your way

[red maples]

and monsanto is run by who??? gov. officials who want more money and more control!!!!

[markcasper]

There seems to be a revolving door between Monsanto and the FDA. The same thing between wall street/banking and Washington.

[PATheron]

In this country it is perfectly legal to buy politicians so whoever has the most money makes the rules and runs the country. Theron

[collinsmapleman2012]

i can see it now... were gonna be bootlegging syrup and selling it to undercover pancake houses lol it will be like how NASCAR got its start lol

[sugarmountain]

sounds like a good time to me! rumor has it a few of the boys north of the border allready do that when they produce more than there quota?-dudley

[Uncle Tucker]

We all say big government is to blame, lets be real, it’s LOBBYIST, BIG BUSINESS that push legislators to make licenses and fees that the small guys cant\wont pay. The big companies can absorb these, fees/taxes and chalk it up to the cost of doing business, and the small ones cant. This pushes the little guy out of business witch helps big business by removing computation. The men and women in congress don’t know any thing about maple, what they do know is money gets them reelected. If some one says the maple industry needs to be regulated and donates to there campaign, maple will be regulated.
The thing that would scares me is the packers deciding that any retail syrup would need to be “certified” or “inspected” to be sold in stores. They could convince ($) congress that it would be safer to the public to certify retail syrup as “safe”. That would take all farmers markets, farm stand and small retail (competition) out of the game. The packers are the ones who set the price per pound and with no retail competition, I don’t think the price would stay the same.
Personally, I have no problem with inspections as long as they don’t cost my customers or me any money. I make a quality product and feel I would pass any inspection. This would clean up the people that cut corners and make an inferior product. The thing I don’t want to see is any fees, taxes or price fixing. As far as inspections, I have no problem with a second option to make sure my product is eatable and safe. It would be embarrassing if some thing was incorrect but I don’t want people getting sick because something I did wrong.
Just my 2 cense.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I think this thread has morphed into its the little guy against the big guy /government. Elections have consequences and when people are put into positions of authority Like FOOD CZARs this is what you get. Its the mentality that "IF IT SAVES ONLY ONE LIFE ISNT IT WORTH IT" mentality. I say HELL NO its not worth it. Yes its special interests that get the ball rolling and then staffers run with in in the name of their bosses the people we elect.

I think the small guy gets caught up or dragged into the big picture. Its collateral damage and the FAT CATs dont see it or care. Just wait till a "FEEL GOOD" story is run on 60 Minutes about how the poor guy in Vermont is being put out of buisness then things will change. I dont think for a second that "BIG EVIL PACKERS" want this. Just see what would happen to the availability and price of syrup if all the small guys were shut out of selling their product to the wholesalers. Bascoms doesnt want all the little guys shut out from bringing small amounts to their dock. Its not like they will have the right to tap your trees or plant 10,000,000 trees in Iowa and start big evil Corporate farms

[mike z]

I would consider my operation very small at 100 taps. I was just in the process of growing to maybe 200, and then ... Regulations will cause me to pause and rethink it all. It would be nice to have some xtra $ to help pay for this hobby. On the flip side, I have seen quart, motor oil bottles hanging from trees with the owner selling his product.

[twofer]

On the flip side, I have seen quart, motor oil bottles hanging from trees with the owner selling his product.

This is why IMO we are digging our own holes from not self policing our own ranks. Maple syrup is a food product, plain and simple, and if we are not using food grade equipment because we're trying to save a bit of money we are a penny wise and a pound foolish. If the public gets wind of more and more practices like was described above you're going to start seeing heavy handed inspections and regulations come raining down on us like a thunderstorm in the sugarbush.

[smitty76]

If the public gets wind of more and more practices like was described above you're going to start seeing heavy handed inspections and regulations come raining down on us like a thunderstorm in the sugarbush.

Twofer is right, but it is hard to convince everyone.It is this kind of stuff that is going create mandated regulations that will be hard for small operations to afford. I recall post's from the past that have talked about this very thing. It is up to us, one and all, to make sure that we are doing the right thing (not useing oil jugs) especially wide open for the public to see. I do not know how many of you have ever been to see how dairies run, most would never drink milk again, however, it is then pasturized some thing like syrup (boiled) and is ok. We need to be honest with ourselfs and to those with which we sell to that our products are safe. When in dout, check it out.