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Vermont
Maple Facts
Annual Production Figures
Vermont
has an ideal climate for growing sugar maple trees; an ideal
climate for good sap flow; and a syrup making know-how which
has been handed down from generation to generation. An air
of romance associated with this long established industry
calls back many people each year to hear the roar of the
raging fire, to inhale the sweet aroma of the boiling syrup,
and to partake of the unmatched flavor of Vermont maple
syrup.
Forty years
are required to grow a maple tree large enough to tap. A
tree ten inches in diameter is considered minimum tappable
size for one tap. For each additional six inches in diameter,
another bucket (tap) may be added. It takes 4-5 taps to
produce enough maple sap (approximately 40 gallons) to produce
one gallon of syrup. The normal maple season lasts 4 to
6 weeks, sometimes starting as early as February in southern
Vermont and lasting into late April in northern Vermont.
Vermont
has a strictly enforced maple grading
law controlling standards of density, flavor and color.
The grade of maple syrup must be plainly and correctly marked
on each container, along with the name and address of the
producer.
Vermont's
law requires syrup to be free from any preservatives or
other additives. Pure Vermont maple syrup is an excellent
source of organic sugar.
Vermont
maple syrup is made into pure maple sugar, maple cream and
maple candies. These pure maple products are made by evaporating
more water from pure maple syrup and controlling the crystallization
process during cooling.
The tourist
industry has had a very positive impact on maple marketing,
and maple products are presently being shipped to countries
all over the world.
Vermont
is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States,
producing about 37 percent of the total U.S. crop in 2000.
Every county in Vermont produces some maple syrup. It is
estimated that we have around 2,000 maple producers in the
state. In 2000, those producers made an estimated 460,000
gallons of maple syrup, with a value of approximately $13,340,000.
Production
varies from year to year, with the weather playing an important
role.
The following
maple production figures for major maple producing states
in New England and New York for the past few years show
how Vermont's production compares to other states in the
region. |
