Press Releases & Industry News

Press Releases and Proclamations

Check out these articles that spotlight MMSPA members and events pertaining to maple syrup in Minnesota.

• Maple Syrup Month Proclamation - Minnesota Governors have officially proclaimed :Maple Month" in the State of Minnesota - 2025 Proclamation | 2023 Proclamation | 2022 Proclamation | 2021 Proclamation | 2018 Proclamation |  2017 Proclamation |  2014 Proclamation

• November 18, 2013 - Local Producers Place First at International Maple Syrup Competition - Press Release

• November 7, 2011 - Local Producers Score Big at International Maple Syrup Competition - Press Release

• May 21, 2011 - Carl Vogt a long time member and past president of MMSPA was inducted into the American Maple Museum Hall of Fame in Croghan, New York.  Carl served as alternate and delegate from Minnesota and as Secretary/Treasurer for the North American Maple Syrup Council for several years. He also conducted Maple Clinics each spring for many years in Minnesota and was editor of the Minnesota Maple Newsletter and was involved in the planning of the NAMSC annual meeting held in Minnesota in 1976, 1987 & 2001.

• February 2010 - Maple Syrup Production Coming to Maplewood State Park - Press Release

• December 2009 - MMSPA member wins North American Maple Cream Competition - Grand Rapids Herald - Review Article

Articles and Industry News

See the following articles related to the Maple Syrup Production industry.

Assessing Damage to Maple Sapwood Caused by Tapping | March 20, 2023

The Towle Maple Products Company | August 20, 2022

Agritourism: Education, Marketing and More | February 1, 2019

Getting Started - Small Maple Syrup Production | February 2, 2018

RESEARCH STUDY ON LAKE STATES MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS | March 2018

Click link to view article:  A Profile of Lake States Maple Syrup Producers and Their Attitudes and Responses to Economic, Social, Ecological, and Climate Challenges

ARTICLE ABOUT MAPLE FLAVORING |  Erik Sherman, October 07, 2016

Click link to view article:  The Maple Syrup Industry Will Always Be Mad About Fake Maple Flavoring

ARTICLE IN WALL STREET JOURNAL |  Ellen Byron, July 20, 2016

Click link to view the video:  Maple Syrup Breaks Away From Breakfast

ELIMINATING LEAD-CONTAINING EQUIPMENT

The industry is promoting the identification and elimination of "old" lead-containing maple processing equipment by producers to protect the integrity of pure maple syrup. Below are articles produced by North American Maple and the IMSI regarding this issue.

• Potential Sources of Lead Contamination in Maple Syrup Production and Processing - February 2015
• Good Manufacturing Practices to Avoid Lead Contamination of Maple Syrup - March 2015
• Some Laboratories that Test for Lead in Maple Syrup - January 2015
  
  

MAPLE SYRUP GRADES

Effective March 15, 2015 the USDA adopted new industry-wide grades and standards for pure maple syrup. Below are articles regarding the new grades and standards for pure maple syrup.

• New Standard International Grading System (adopted in both the US and Canada)
• New Maple Syrup Grades Approved by USDA (Reprint of article from MN Maple News, Spring Edition 2015)
  
  

MAPLE SYRUP REBELLION IN QUEBEC, CANADA

The following link will take you to an extensive article from the National Post focused on the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec also known as the Quebec Maple Producers Federation and the issues facing its producers.

• Maple Syrup Rebellion - National Post Article
• Guerrillas in the Sugar Bush - Related Video