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Maple Syrup School Gives Maine Taste of Respect

December 07, 2009 - SKOWHEGAN -- The largest maple syrup-producing county in the nation finally is getting some respect.

The International Maple Syrup Institute, based in Ontario, will hold its sixth annual maple grading school in Skowhegan on Thursday and Friday.

The two-day course will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

"It is a big deal for Maine to be hosting this international school for the first time," said Extension educator Kathryn Hopkins.

The school is sponsored by the International Maple Syrup Institute, the Extension Service and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

The idea behind the symposium, Hopkins said, is to provide learning tools for maple producers, bulk syrup buyers, state inspectors and others who need to accurately grade maple syrup or judge maple-product entries at fairs and contests.

"This school will provide a strong scientific base combined with intensive hands-on exercises," she said. "This approach will enable participants to learn how to grade or judge maple products with confidence."

The International Maple Syrup Institute was founded in 1975 to provide marketing solutions to maple syrup producers and handlers in the United States and Canada.

Bringing the event to Skowhegan will attract attention, Hopkins said.

"Somerset County is the biggest maple-producing county in the United States," she said. "Geographically, we're the largest county, and we have some huge producers in the northern part of the county. On a county-by-county basis, we do produce more pounds of syrup or gallons of syrup than any other county in Maine and in the United States."

By DOUG HARLOW, Morning Sentinel December 1, 2009


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