WVMPSA is passing this along from the co-chairs of the convention.
To All Maple Syrup Producers, Industry Representatives & Educators:
In approximately 75 days Minnesota will host the North American maple industry in Duluth, October 21-24. This will be the first time Minnesota has hosted the “international” since 2001.
The convention will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) over looking the city’s shipping harbor and bustling Canal Park business district. Our efforts have been to put together a program of interest to large commercial producers, to smaller but serious producers and even established hobbyists. The trade show promises to be the largest display of maple equipment and supplies ever held in Minnesota. The work shops and technical sessions will offer subjects and discussion applicable to all sizes of maple operations. This is the one time each year that the entire maple industry gathers together to promote maple and discuss the state of the industry.
All convention details including program, schedule, hotels, registration forms, contests, etc. are now posted on the MMSPA web site: www.mnmaple.org, click onConvention Details .
Here are a few things to consider:
1. REGISTER- Go to the above web site and complete your Celebrating Superior Sweetness registration, the sooner the better. Registering now will help assure your choices are available, and will be very helpful in our final planning. By registering before September 1st you will avoid the higher “late” registration fees. There are several registration options including the full convention (3 days + tour day) to a one day (Wednesday) option. The one-day Wednesday fee of only $35 is a real bargain that will include entry to the trade show, lunch, workshops and technical sessions. There are still a few openings for the highly regarded IMSI Maple Grading School led by Kathy Hopkins of the University of Maine – Extension. The IMSI grading school, set for Thursday-Friday, is intended for experienced sugar makers. It will be many years before so much maple information, including Minnesota’s largest maple equipment show ever, comes back to Minnesota. Don’t miss this opportunity.
2. BUSINESS CARD AD- Have some fun and put your personal touch on the Convention Program with an ad featuring your maple business card. For $25 and a sample business card we will add your card as an advertisement in the program book. Do it to help the cause. Do it for the publicity. Do it for fun. Send your check payable to MMSPA along with a clean crisp business card to Convention Treasurer Tony McGinnity, 1503 Colleen Ave., Arden Hills, MN 55112. Business card ad copy must be received by August 31, 2019.
3. ENTER THE CONTESTS- The convention activities will include both a maple syrup/confections contest and a photography contest. Beautiful plaques and ribbons will be awarded. All entry classes and contest details and rules are on the web site. It will say a lot if your syrup places well among the entries at the international, You can’t win if you don’t enter. Syrup must be submitted in a single one-pint glass or plastic container. Contests are open to registered convention participants only. Hope to see you in Duluth in October.
Questions? Give either of us a call or an Email.
Co-Chairs:Stu Peterson Cell 651-707-4575, Email: campaquila@aol.com
Shelly Carlson Cell 320-248-7784, Email: carlsonwildwoodranch@msn.com