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This month, Adam interviews Joël Boutin, a maple specialist, consultant, and educator from Québec, Canada. He is considered by many to be the foremost maple expert working today. After 40 years working in the maple industry, he has much to share, and, amazingly, still much to learn as the industry rapidly grows and changes. This episode focuses on best tapping practices that could help ensure success this sap season. Episode produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron interviews Adam Henne, the new educator with the New York State Maple Producers Association (NYSMPA). They discuss the goals of and improvements made to this valuable education program. Learn more about the program at: https://nysmaple.com/the-maple-experience/ Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron interviews Alina Stelick, manager of the Cornell Sensory Evaluation Center. She shares the results of research pursued for her doctorate degree on buddy syrup and other late season syrup sensory profiles, as well as on consumer acceptance of these syrups. Alina Stelick's buddy syrup research has resulted in two Extension Bulletins that are available now on the Cornell Maple Program home page (www.cornellmaple.com). Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron and Adam discuss their experiences testing different methods for chilling sap during the warm part of the production season in mid-spring. Technology to improve and preserve sap quality is becoming essential as the weather gets warmer during the sap collection season. Methods for all different budgets and sized operations are discussed in this episode. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron interviews Eric Shatt, owner of Redbyrd Orchard Cider & Kombucha. Together, he and his wife Deva Maas operate a diversified farm with a wide array of hard cider apple tree varieties, sheep and geese that graze the orchards, and a small maple sugarbush. These enterprises synergize, not only on the land, but also in the cidery / fermentation kitchen where they develop unique value-added products. Find Redbyrd Orchard at the Ithaca Farmers Market, or learn more at: https://www.redbyrdorchardcider.com/ Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

After about one year since the last one, this is our fourth installment of "Ask a Maple Specialist." Aaron and Adam answer some of your most frequently asked maple questions. To have your question featured on the show, visit the Sweet Talk webpage at www.cornellmaple.com (https://blogs.cornell.edu/cornellmaple/sweettalk/). Or, submit your question directly on the Spotify app. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron interviews Gabe Karns from The Ohio State University. Gabe has been studying Freeman's maple, a hybrid between red and silver maple that may prove to be more resilient and just as productive as sugar maple. Gabe can be reached at: [email protected] Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This is our third installment of "Ask a Maple Specialist." Aaron and Adam answer some of your most frequently asked maple questions. To have your question featured on the show, visit the Sweet Talk webpage at www.cornellmaple.com (https://blogs.cornell.edu/cornellmaple/sweettalk/). Or, submit your question directly on the Spotify app. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Adam interviews Scott St. Mary from St. Maple in Malone, NY. Scott has a unique and successful approach to maple marketing and retail, especially through novel products and a popular maple food trailer. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron interviews Peter Gregg, founder of the Maple News and author of the anticipated maple memoir Sugar Rush. They discuss the origins of the newspaper, and of Gregg's sugaring career, and give a sneak peak into the memoir that will hit the shelves on July 2. Subscribe to the Maple News at: https://www.themaplenews.com/. And learn more about Sugar Rush at: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Sugar-Rush/Peter-Gregg/9781639366811 Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Adam interviews two researchers from the University of Michigan, Geoff Lewis and Spencer Checkoway, who received a USDA-AMS ACER grant to conduct a carbon lifecycle assessment of maple syrup production. To help contribute to this research, contact Geoff Lewis at: [email protected], and to view the results of this research, go to the Center for Sustainable Systems website: css.umich.edu. This research will result in a calculator tool hosted on the CSS website for maple producers to better understand the sustainability and efficiency of their operations. Additionally, there are a couple of reports available now related to this research. Find them under "Publications" here: https://css.umich.edu/people/student-researchers/spencer-checkoway. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron and Adam get together with their colleague at the Cornell Maple Program, food scientist Dr. Catherine Belisle. Catherine went through the process of getting the Arnot Forest kitchen certified by New York State under Article 20-C. This certification can provide maple producers the opportunity to create a variety of food products for sale, granting access to a wider market. And the certification process is simpler than one might think. Though this episode focusses on experiences with the New York State certification system, the information should translate well to similar regulations in your state. As always, we're here to help. Contact Catherine, and others at the Cornell Maple Program at www.cornellmaple.com, and send us a message through the "Contact Us" page. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron pays a visit to Dan Weed's sugarhouse, located just over the hill from the Arnot Forest. Dan wears many hats, as owner and operator of Schoolyard Sugarbush in Newfield, NY, along with his wife Holly, as a CDL equipment dealer, and as President of the New York Maple Producers' Association. Learn more about Schoolyard Sugarbush: https://www.schoolyardsugarbush.org/ Learn more about the NYSMPA: https://nysmaple.com/ Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron and Adam review some highlights from this year's re-launch of New York's annual Maple Conference. Special thanks to the New York State Maple Producers' Association, Commissioner Ball and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Trumansburg High School Sugaring Program, and to all who attended the conference. We hope to return with an even bigger and better conference in 2025. Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud, Funk and Flash, both by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

This month, Aaron and Adam give a preview into the 2024 NY Mid-Winter Maple Classic - the largest maple conference of the year. The conference will be held on January 5 and 6 at the Oncenter in Syracuse, NY. Register and learn more at: https://nysmaple.com/mapleclassic/ Episode Produced by Ailis Clyne. Music - Long and Low Cloud by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)