- [Mark] This is Mark Isselhardt,
maple specialist with University of Vermont Extension,
and this is another "Vermont Maple Minute."
The International Maple Syrup Institute, or IMSI,
was founded in 1975 to promote and protect pure maple syrup
and other pure maple products.
Its mission remains largely unchanged.
The organization provides an important
international framework for communication,
information exchange, and cooperation
on a variety of issues related to the production, sale,
and marketing of pure maple syrup.
In addition, the Institute has been a strong monitor
for adulteration around the world,
protecting the integrity of maple products.
The three key parts to IMSI's mission are
to protect the integrity of pure maple syrup,
to encourage more industry cooperation,
and to improve communication
with the international maple syrup industry.
The IMSI also devotes considerable time and effort
towards advocacy on regulatory issues
at both the state and federal level.
One recent significant effort was
to advocate against the planned requirement
that all sugar found in maple syrup be listed
as added sugar on the FDA nutrition facts panel.
This is Mark Isselhardt,
maple specialist with University of Vermont Extension,
and this has been another "Vermont Maple Minute."