By Allison Hope, Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association
At 131 years old, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA) holds the bragging rights of being one of the oldest agriculture associations in the country. We are proud that maple is “The Official Flavor of Vermont”. When people think of Vermont, they think of high quality, pure maple syrup and the thousands of families that make it.
Vermont has a long history of maple production, and over time, producers have innovated to create efficiencies that benefit the environment, the trees, and their operations. As a member association, our mission is to support maple producers through educational opportunities, information about updated and emerging science, peer to peer networking, and promoting and protecting the branding of pure Vermont maple.
The Association offers strategic, long-term value for our members while still operating a lean non-profit with a professional staff. Our members represent the diversity of maple producers around the state - from backyard hobbyists who are just getting started, to family run operations with over 100,000 taps, to bulk packers who purchase from local producers around the state.
VMSMA offers educational opportunities for all producer levels and interests that focus on science, best practices, access to technical expertise and peer feedback, marketing and much more. We also work on behalf of our membership to form collaborative relationships with partner organizations and agencies to address topics ranging from government affairs at both the local and national level and broadening our marketing reach.
Maple production in the state has grown more than 350% in the last twenty years! With more and more folks showing an interest in tapping trees, we support them with the science and best practices they need to follow in the footsteps of those who have created a tradition of high-quality Vermont maple syrup. One new Association program that offers this expertise is our Sugarhouse Certification Program and associated Grant Program. The FDA has designated pure maple a low-risk food, which offers up exemptions for producers that other food products don’t have. It’s up to every maple producer to understand all the associated food safety regulations and know how to follow them. Our Sugarhouse Certification Program offers a path to get there and we support any necessary upgrades with grants up to $15,000, while funding lasts!
We think of ourselves like the public radio of maple - we’re a resource and advocate for all of Vermont’s maple producers, but the Association is even more valuable when you join. Membership is a two-way conversation that is most robust when we have a critical mass of our state’s producers on board.
For a full listing of membership benefits and information on how to join us, please visit www.vermontmaple.org. Email maple@vermontmaple.org with any questions!