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Results for: 'Maple Sap'

1:32

Sugar Maple Seeds

By: uvmext

Sugar makers and community members alike have noticed a large number of sugar maple seedlings this spring. These first year trees were the result of a large seed year in 2019. Sugar maples begin producing seed when they are about 40 years old or 8...

0:42

Traditional Collection Methods

By: uvmext

Traditional methods of sap collection have changed over time. Initially, Native Americans created gashes in the stem, and directed sap into wooden or bark vessels. Early spouts were created by hollowing out small twigs, which were inserted into ta...

1:19

Organic Maple Syrup

By: uvmext

Certified organic maple syrup is produced by many Vermont maple producers and generally commands a higher price in the marketplace. In order to legally market your syrup as "organic" an approved third-party certifier such as Vermont Organic Farmer...

0:43

Heat

By: uvmext

Processing sap with heat in the evaporator is essential. The reactions responsible for the development of maple syrup's characteristic color and flavors require heat to proceed. Syrup produced by methods with little or no heating, such as freeze-d...

0:47

Vacuum

By: uvmext

Sap flows out of trees due to the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the tree. In the 1950s, maple researchers and producers found that adding vacuum pumps to tubing systems could increase this pressure differential and there...

1:37

Maple Seeds

By: uvmext

Sugar maple flowers that are fertilized in spring, will develop into mature seeds in late summer. The seeds come in the form of winged samaras (sometimes referred to as helicopters or whirligigs). Sugar maple samaras develop in pairs but generally...

0:48

Reverse Osmosis

By: uvmext

Some producers use membrane separation (called "reverse osmosis" or simply "RO" within the maple industry) in addition to evaporation with heat. In this process, sap is forced through membranes that have pores which are large enough for water to p...

0:55

Sanitation

By: uvmext

Like people, plants have strong mechanisms to prevent the spread of microorganisms within their tissues. Trees are capable of "walling off" wounds to prevent infections from spreading throughout the tree. This healing process also slows, and event...

1:31

Photosynthesis

By: uvmext

The sugaring season has been over for a while. Maple trees ended their annual period of dormancy when their winter buds broke, allowing new leaves to emerge. These lush green leaves are now working to produce all the energy needed for the tree to ...