You'll have enough maple for the winter thanks to Vermont's sugaring season
Maleeha Syed
Vermont took the cake (or maybe syrup on the pancake?) in U.S. maple production for 2019. Which seems expected at this point.
The state's Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts announced the Green Mountain State produced over 2 million gallons of syrup this season, a 7 percent increase from 2018.
Tebbetts said sugaring season kicked off a little later than usual as a result of colder conditions. Vermont's season began Jan. 9, later than 2017 but three days earlier than last year.
More:A day in the life of a Vermont maple sugarhouse
Though Vermont leads in the United States, its northern neighbor maintains a stronghold on the maple market. In 2017, Quebec produced almost 11.5 million gallons of maple, 92 percent of the total Canadian output.
Quebec designates quotas for production and allows excess syrup to be saved for "poor harvest years, maintaining stable and high prices."
The Green Mountain State does not have to abide by the limits on production set by the Canadian cartel, but are still able to sell syrup "at the high, Canadian-determined price" that rules the maple market.
How Vermont maple stacks up to competitors
The Green Mountain State's syrup production can be compared to other states in the nation in a report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The first day sap is collected in Vermont has traditionally been in early January, while the last day is typically in May, based on counts from 2017 to 2019.
Other states in the most recent report include:
- Connecticut.
- Indiana.
- Maine.
- Massachusetts.
- Michigan.
- Minnesota.
- New Hampshire.
- New York.
- Ohio.
- Pennsylvania.
- West Virginia.
- Wisconsin.
Vermont also has some of the cheapest average prices for a gallon of its syrup compared to its counterparts. In 2017 and 2018, the average price of a gallon was under $30, while the other states did not fall below $30. Connecticut's average price in 2018 was $76.
Contact Maleeha Syed at mzsyed@freepressmedia.com or 802-495-6595. Follow her on Twitter @MaleehaSyed89.