Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[Apple Hill Sugarworks]

My last good boil was Sunday 4-13. After Monday with temps 70+ I dumped all the sap, with a nice freeze Wed. and Thur. I tried boiling Friday afternoon with 750 gals, ran it through the RO to 18%. When I stated the evap. that's when it all went to #*^! I don't think all the de-foamer in the world would knock down the crap in the back pan. The plus was I had all the water I needed to clean for the end of the season! First boil was 3-30 and the last should have ben 4-13. We are at 80% only down 20% from last year, It was a hell of a ride for two weeks.

[sapmaple]

I had almost the same thing as Apple Hill. Last boil on the 19th April before that it was the 12th I wash out all my tanks and let the lines flush before I started collecting sap It look like very good sap. but when i started to boil found that flue pan was full of ropey man it took some two half drums to clear it through (should have dump it ) but then it boiled real nice and made three more drum of filtered good tasting buddy lol Well finished up the season with 3035 gals. Given the year I'll take that and be happy!!

[sjdoyon]

After two solid weeks of 200 plus gallons of syrup a day, this past Wednesday and Thursday 20 degree days and six inches of snow resulted in over 20,000 gallons of sap on Friday, best day ever. Making nice medium amber all weekend. Still have snow in the sugarbush and sap is clear. Weather looks good for the week. Just might make it to the first week of May.

[spud]

Another 4000 gallons of sap today and still going. Not supposed to freeze tonight so tomorrow might be the end for me. A few cold nights mid week but I don't think we can make it that long. Time will tell. Happy Easter Everyone. ( He died for us).

sjdoyon- I hope you get another week. Please keep us posted.

Spud

[PerryW]

Still running in Lyman NH and Littleton NH, but looks like everybody else quit in my area. Made 11 gal yesterday from 500 gal of sap and another 6 today from 250 Gal. All Dark Amber. Looks like i'll be done after tomorrow.

[chevypower]

Another 55 gallons made Sunday.. The syrup was still filtering fine yesterday and the flavor actually improved a little but depending on how it goes today we might call it quits.

[Randy Brutkoski]

If it is still filtering, you should keep going.

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

I think it's time to give up, I just am having a hard time letting go. I have 1000 gal of concentrate, but last night when I tried to boil the foam was crazy.

Is there a market for syrup that won't filter? Should I even bother boiling out what's in my arch?

Thanks for any advice. I plan to try again today unless someone talks me out of it. I hate the idea of dumping what could be 100+ gal of syrup on the ground if it's worth anything.

Ben

[GeneralStark]

I think it's time to give up, I just am having a hard time letting go. I have 1000 gal of concentrate, but last night when I tried to boil the foam was crazy.

Is there a market for syrup that won't filter? Should I even bother boiling out what's in my arch?

Thanks for any advice. I plan to try again today unless someone talks me out of it. I hate the idea of dumping what could be 100+ gal of syrup on the ground if it's worth anything.

Ben

If you typically sell your syrup bulk who do you sell it to? I would ask them if they would buy unfiltered C. I have sold some of this type of syrup to Pete Purinton, but he doesn't always want it. Unfiltered always means less value.

In 2012 there was quite a bit of it out there and people were buying it.

[Walling's Maple Syrup]

I think it's time to give up, I just am having a hard time letting go. I have 1000 gal of concentrate, but last night when I tried to boil the foam was crazy.

Is there a market for syrup that won't filter? Should I even bother boiling out what's in my arch?

Thanks for any advice. I plan to try again today unless someone talks me out of it. I hate the idea of dumping what could be 100+ gal of syrup on the ground if it's worth anything.

Ben

1.50/lb. for anything unfiltered(16.50 a gallon)
Neil