SUGARING
NYS Maple Producers Winter Conference

January 4-5, Verona, N.Y.

The 2008 New York State Maple Producers Winter Conference will be held at the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School in Verona, N.Y., on Friday evening, January 4, and all day Saturday, January 5. This location provides plenty of meeting space as well as room for a large trade show.

This year, a slightly more relaxed session schedule has been introduced that will include the latest in research and grower experiences regarding maple production, promotion, forest management and the making and marketing of a variety of maple value added products. Sessions on sugar house design, boiling technology, dealing with wildlife problems, going organic and selling from a self-serve roadside market are just a few of the topics that have gone untouched for a few years. This event has something for every level of maple producer and even those just looking at entering the business.

The conference kicks off Friday evening. Dave Evans from Nelson Farms of Morrisville College will offer a presentation on developing the maple market. Nelson Farms provides entrepreneurial opportunities for specialty food processors, farmers and producers. Opportunities include the following:
• processing/co-packing
• product development
• training classes
• distribution
• sales.

Nelson Farms is a state-of-the-art, one-stop processing facility for small scale food processors, farmers and producers. Nelson Farms and Morrisville State College are also establishing a state-wide distribution system to assist producers in getting their products to the market place. This distribution system will provide opportunities for expansion into major markets. If you have ideas about moving to more profitable marketing, this session is for you.

Also on Friday, the industry trade show—highlighting maple equipment, manufacturers and vendors—is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. More than 25 exhibitors are anticipated to display a complete line of maple equipment including evaporators, vacuum pumps, tubing supplies and value-added processing equipment and supplies.

Saturday’s trade show opens at 8 a.m., with workshops starting at 9  a.m. This conference is sponsored by the V.V.S. FFA, New York State Maple Producers Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension. The V.V.S. High School is located between Utica and Syracuse, N.Y., on State Route 31, just two minutes from NYS Thruway Exit 33. Overnight accommodations are within five minutes of the conference site.

For additional information, contact V.V.S. FFA advisor Keith Schiebel at kschiebel@vvsschools.org . Registration for individuals at the door is $15 for Friday and $30 for Saturday. Registration forms are available at the New York State Maple Producers Web site, www.nysmaple.com , and the Cornell Maple Program Web site, cornellmaple.com .

SCHEDULE:
Friday:
Maple Trade Show 6 - 9 p.m.
Keynote Presentation: 7 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Saturday
Maple Trade Show 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Workshops & Seminars: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.