(And, coming soon, is a story about H & H Sugarbush, a Sylvan Township maple syrup business owned by Kirk and Michelle Hedding, whose products can be purchased at the Saturday Chelsea Farmers’ Market.)
“Tis the season for local (and national) maple syrup season to get underway, here’s some fun sugarbush trivia for you.
- Michigan ranks 6th in maple syrup production in the United States.
- Average maple syrup production in Michigan is about 90,000 gallons per year.
- Economic contributions of the pure maple syrup industry to Michigan are nearly $2.5 million annually.
- There are an estimated 500 commercial maple syrup producers in Michigan with some 2,000 additional hobby or home use producers.
- The production of pure maple syrup is the oldest agricultural enterprise in the United States.
- Maple syrup is one of the few agricultural crops in which demand exceeds supply.
- Only about 1 percent of Michigan’s maple forest resource is used in maple syrup production.
- In an average year, each tap-hole will produce about 10 gallons of maple sap, enough for about a quart of pure Michigan maple syrup.
- Maple sap is a slightly sweet, colorless liquid.
- It takes approximately 40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.
