New Syrup Handbook, Fall Maple Days, and Other Updates

Lots of news here, so scroll to the end!

Future Generations Syrup Handbook

Visit our Useful Links (see right-hand column or Useful Links to get a link to Future Generations new Syrup Handbook, which has lots of resource links and some other direct information pages to get started with sugaring! This is from Karen Milnes from FGU for more information about the handbook:

“With generous support from the Benedum Foundation, our staff at Future Generations University has been working the past few months on a handbook for maple syrup producers–particularly Southern producers. We’ve started with the basics and will continue to expand on more topics. Feel free to share with folks you know who might be interested in getting into the sweet world of maple sugaring, and send us any feedback you may have! We’d love to hear what other topics you would like to see covered. We plan on doing more cheat sheets on value-added products, labeling and marketing, and how to ready your sugar shack for an inspection, to name a few.”

Contact info for Karen Milnes:

  • Sweet Opportunities: Tapping West Virginia’s Maple Resources Project Coordinator
  • Future Generations University
  • karen.milnes@future.edu (304) 358-2000

Maple Cookbook Update

Kate Fotos has finished compiling the recipes and stories and is very grateful for your input! She is in the last stages of formatting, and it will be printed soon. This is very exciting to have this long-awaited project so near completion!

Bad News: Maple Syrup Symposium Has been Cancelled for 2020

Message from Mike Rechlin:

The second Southern Syrup Research Symposium has been cancelled.  Our speakers could not guarantee that their organizations would let them travel this October.

The plan is to see where things are in a year. 

Lots of Resources Added to Useful Links

Visit https://wvmspa.org/useful-links/  for other new resources in addition to the new handbook. There is a link to New York State’s Maple Youtube Channel which has lots of videos for sugarers of all ages! Also there is a more complete list of links from our friends in Vermont.

Hot off the Press! Fall Maple Days

Just in from our fearless leader, Keith Heasely:

“Hello WVMPA members:

“I continue to participate in the planning for a fall maple day with the presidents of the other state associations.  If you remember, they are planning a nation wide fall maple day in the October 9-18 time frame. A number of the states are very enthusiastic about this fall maple day and are moving forward with a significant effort and a significant number of sugarhouses participating.

“When I sent my earlier email at the end of June, a few members responded that they were interested in participating and a few members responded that they were not interested, because of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation.  I would love to hear any additional feedback from members that have not provide me their thoughts yet.

“At this point, with limited interested, I do not propose that the WVMSPA make a big effort to participate in the Fall Maple Day event.  However, individual sugarhouses are, of course, free to participate as desired, and I will try to keep you updated on the continued planning.”

Keith.Heasley@mail.wvu.edu

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