By The Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association - February 2022
Have you considered signing up for the Sugarhouse Certification Program? This program is our interpretation of current food safety rules. While participating in the Certification Program is voluntary, following food safety rules is required for sugar makers. We've worked to anticipate barriers to participating in this program, from cost to templates for processes and procedures. You'll find all of the details below, but feel free to give us a call with any questions!
Our goal is to offer an accessible, yet comprehensive program that will ensure sugar makers are using the highest standards to make quality Vermont maple syrup, maple sugar and maple cream in accordance with all food safety standards. We will work with sugar makers to ensure that we answer any questions you might have ahead of Certification, that we offer a full complement of sample policies and documents for your use and that you are ready for Certification before we arrive for an onsite visit.
Before you sign up for the Program, please read through this information, including the Certification Checklist, to ensure you understand how it works and what will be expected. In addition, we held an "Introduction to Certification" session on Zoom on May 12, 2021 and offered space for sugar makers to ask any questions about the Program. You can watch that session online here.
How Does the Program Work?
We have contracted with four Sugarhouse Food Safety Specialists to complete the Certifications. Once you sign up and submit payment, you'll be assigned a Specialist based on your location. The Specialist will schedule time to talk to you on the phone or via Zoom to complete the work that can be done offsite - documentation review and answering any questions specific to your operation. Once that work is complete, they'll schedule a site visit to work through the rest of the Checklist. To better illustrate the steps from "I'm interested in the Certification Program" to "I'm ready to sign up" to "I'm Certified!", we've created a simple flowchart to show you how it all works.
Have questions?
You can review our FAQs on the website or get in touch for more information. You can reach Allison Hope by email allison@vermontmaple.org or by phone 802.777.2667.