While a national campaign could help a lot, I see no advantage to bundling the syrup into one pool. It is well documented that each area produces a syrup taste unique to that region. I feel that is why I do so well selling all of my syrup at retail.
That was not always the case, in my early years I retailed it all, but then my production grew faster than my market, I then sold bulk for about 8 seasons. Then after 2015 I cut back and have only grown to meet my retail demand (from 1320 in 2015, to 725 in 2016 to 750 in 2017 and then 850 this season.
I far prefer keeping marketing on a local level, thus I think local co-op's could be helpful but not state wide or even worse, regional. I realize that some producers might not be able to market all they make for various reasons, but I feel most should try to market more. This might be a place for even without a formal co-op or other arrangement, the local producers in each are might well benefit from keeping a list of what syrup other local producers have on hand that might be for sale. That way, as one runs low, they could buy from a local producer. This way there could easily be a price arrived at somewhere in between what bulk buyers pay and what bulk sellers sell for, making it a win/win for both parties. That would also help keep the regional flavors protected.
I see part of the bulk price issue as being caused by too many needing their cash NOW , rather than waiting and I understand how that is, but the more producers are able to hold their bulk until a more local producer needs some, the better things will get.
I know a single check looks good, but when you can make more by spreading it over a whole year just makes more sense (and more $). I'm just glad I can afford to wait and don't need the cash to pay debts right after the season because I borrow nothing to need to repay. The worst I have is on rare occasion I need to split a credit card and only pay a bill over 2 months, but 95% of the CC bills are paid in full each time. I also, have no other farm bills, even my home has no mortgage, my truck was bought cash, my tractor I paid cash and I realize in that respect I'm above the curve where most would not be able to do this.
My advise towards that means, is accelerate your debt payments, and force yourself to pay them first, starting with the highest interest rate one and working back towards the lowest one. Then as you finish paying one debt off, put that amount towards the next. Do not think of it as a time to celebrate until the last one is paid in full. Then celebrate by paying yourself in a savings or investment. This worked wonders for me, however to get there we lived a little close to the belt until we were set.
Dave Klish, I recently bought a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
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Originally Posted by maple flats
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