BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Sap is running and that has sugar makers working, but problems from last year are already leading to trouble this season.
Eric Sorkin, the co-owner of Runamok Maple, says the sugar season snuck up quickly. They hope for a better year than last.
“Crops ranged from about half a crop to three quarters,” said Sorkin.
It wasn’t the sweetest syrup come years end, and forest conditions were tough according to Sorkin, but they made it through.
“We all want it to be a really good year to make up for it,” said Sorkin.
But this year is already presenting it’s own unique set of challenges. Ranging from hiring, to supply chains, to market prices, they are still getting back on their feet.
“In our packing facility here, it’s been everything, labor and supply chain for sure two of the bigger things,” said Sorkin.
Sorkin says hiring for their woods operations has also been a challenge.
As for supplies, it’s glass slowing them down and they’re not alone.
“Last fall, we had heard containers and jugs being an issue,” said Cory Ayotte with the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association.
Ayotte says some issues have found their way into this year. To get ahead this year, they created a container committee.
“We’re taking the blank jugs, shipping them to a member in state, and they are actually labeling them and that is increasing the time, or speeding it up I should say, getting them to members,” said Ayotte.
While Ayotte agrees staffing has been a problem through the pandemic, he remains optimistic for this year.
“I hope I’m not speaking too soon, it seems like people are getting back out, working, and I’m just sort of excited for the season ahead,” said Ayotte. “A lot of them now have robust online sale sites, and again now that we are coming out of COVID are still selling in person but that is just another way for them to get their products in state and out of state.”
But staffing and container issues could eventually change how much you pay to get a gallon. Sorkin says Runamok is watching the costs of maple syrup.
Their costs for labor and materials are up. Sorkin says they have been trying to absorb the majority of increases, and their products will likely follow food prices.
“Sometimes it feels like we are lurching from one new urgency to another because there are some many things that are out of our control right now that are definitely impacting us,” said Sorkin.
The Maple Sugar Makers’ Association says they have no notable increase in product from their members, and a gallon should cost about $45-60 this year.
For the rest of the year, Sorkin says he never feels totally ready, but he trusts his team.
“We have done everything we can, we have a really good team in place. We have all the right components,” said Sorkin.
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