- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt,
Maple Specialist with the University of Vermont Extension
and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
or NAS,
has released the crop totals for the 2020 Maple season.
Vermont led the US in total taps
with 6.15 million state wide.
New York had the next highest number
of taps with 2.8 million.
Combined with Maine's 1.97 million taps,
Vermont, New York and Maine collectively represent 80%
of all the taps in the US.
Vermont producers sell the vast majority
of their crop into the bulk market.
In 2019,
87% of all syrup produced in Vermont was sold
in a barrel to another business
that then in turn sells to either wholesale
or direct to consumer.
For comparison's sake,
Maine tops the US in selling bulk syrup
with 94% of the crop
and New York at 68%.
The bulk price paid to the sugar maker is lower than
if they sold it directly to the consumer
but that higher price for retail syrup comes
with many costs associated with marketing
that product and many producers prefer to avoid.
Some producers choose a mix of marketing strategies
and sell a portion
of their crop direct to consumer
and the rest to a syrup packer.
Sugar makers have successfully managed selling syrup online,
either through large online retailers
or through their own website.
For more information about how
to establish an online marketing presence
for your syrup,
contact the UVM Extension Maple program.
This is Mark Isselhardt,
Maple Specialist
with University of Vermont Extension
and this has been another Vermont Maple Minute.