Important announcement about NH Maple Weekend 2020

 

Union, NH: The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association (NHMPA) Board of Directors has been closely watching the effect that COVID-19 (commonly known as coronavirus) is having on our local communities, the state of NH, and our neighboring states. It is with heavy hearts that the NHMPA Board of Directors has chosen to cancel NH Maple Weekend and the remainder of NH Maple Month.

NH sugar makers will still have maple syrup and maple products available as this maple sugaring season was off to a great start. Local sugar houses can be contacted directly to see if they are open for guests. Additionally, NH sugar houses may offer off-hours pick-up, sell their products online, and be willing to mail their delicious maple products right to the customers door.

Each March, NH maple sugaring families look forward to welcoming folks to their sugar houses and showing off NH’s rich maple tradition. The NHMPA is in the early stages of planning a fall NH sugar house event. More information will be available shortly.

About the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Inc: The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Inc. is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the high quality of New Hampshire’s maple sugaring tradition. The NHMPA organizes several events throughout the year including NH Maple Weekend on March 20-21, 2021, when our sugar houses are open to the public, NH Maple Month, the Felker Prize for NH youth and the tapping of the first maple by the governor. Learn more at www.nhmapleproducers.com.

Fadden’s Sugar House Wins the Carlisle Award for Best NH Maple Syrup

Union, NH: The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association (NHMPA) is proud to announce that the winner of this year’s Lawrence A. Carlisle Memorial Trophy for the best NH-made maple syrup is Fadden’s Sugar House in North Woodstock, NH.

A multigenerational NH maple producing family, Fadden’s Sugar House is no stranger to sweet success. The family’s maple syrup has been awarded NH’s top honors seven times before. This year’s success is bittersweet as 2018 marked the passing of two family members, James H. Fadden Sr. and James “Jim” Fadden Jr.

“Congratulations to the Fadden’s for producing the states best syrup,” say Nick Kosko, President of the NHMPA Board of Directors. “Best of luck to James Fadden, Jim’s son, as he carries on the legacy his family has created!”

Commonly referred to as the Carlisle Award, the award is presented annually by the NHMPA for excellence in production of maple syrup. Entries are judged by density, clarity and flavor. Any of the 350-plus members can participate. To reach the final round of judging, a sugar house’s syrup must have placed in the top three at a NH state fair. This year’s finalists had their syrup judged by guest judge, Kathryn Hopkins. Hopkins is a University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator, one of the creators of the International Maple Syrup Institute Maple Grading School and an inductee into the Maple Hall of Fame.

Each year, the NHMPA recognizes the best maple syrup from five maple producers. This year, Second Place was awarded to David Clark of Clark’s Sugarhouse in Alstead, NH; Third Place to Don & Barbara Lassonde of Beaver Meadowbrook Farm Sugar House in Warner, NH; Fourth Place to Sean Atkins of Atkins Family Sugarhouse in Washington, NH and Fifth Place to Marty Boisvert of Journey’s End Maple Farm in Pittsfield, NH.

The award is named for Lawrence A. Carlisle, a commissioner of Agriculture in the 1920s and 1930s, devoted to the development of the maple industry in New Hampshire and best known for introducing the maple grading system.

About the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Inc: The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Inc. is a non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the high quality of New Hampshire’s maple tradition. The NHMPA organizes several public events throughout the year including Maple Weekend on March 23-24, 2019, when all our sugar houses are open to the public, NH Maple Sugaring Month, the Felker Prize and the tapping of the first maple by the governor. Learn more at www.nhmapleproducers.com.

From left to right: James Fadden Sr, James Fadden, Jim Fadden; Front: Seamus Fadden

 

June 1 2017 Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes from Board of Directors meeting on June 1, 2017

Please click here for a copy of the minutes from the Board of Directors meeting. NH Maple Association Board Meeting 6-1-2017

 

The voting for these minutes are as follows:

Dale S voted yes to accept
Steve R voted yes to accept
Nick K voted yes to accept
Bruce T voted yes to accept
Ben F voted yes to accept
Chris O voted yes to accept
Jeff M did not vote
Sara F did not vote

Announcing the 2017 NH Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Announcing the 2017 NH Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) is pleased to announce the competitive solicitation process to award Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds for projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New Hampshire. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/ Agricultural Market Service (AMS) has allocated these funds to the states and NHDAMF will be administering its portion funds as competitive grants.

The requirements and procedures for application are based on federal rules and regulations for SCBGP funding. More information is available at: http://agriculture.nh.gov/divisions/agricultural-development/grant-program.htm

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) is eligible to receive funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The NHDAMF wishes to offer eligible New Hampshire organizations the opportunity to apply for a portion of these funds under the New Hampshire Specialty Crops Grant Program to conduct projects that benefit NH Specialty Crops. Specialty Crops are defined as: fruit, vegetable, nursery, floriculture, herb, maple, Christmas tree and honey crops. For a complete list of eligible and ineligible crops visit the USDA AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop

Grant projects may focus in the following areas to solely enhance NH Specialty Crops, but are not restricted to these areas exclusively:

  • Food Safety
  • Pest and Disease Prevention, Control and Eradication
  • Research and Development
  • Industry Promotion and Marketing
  • Technology and Innovation

All reasonable proposals with appropriate documentation will be considered. Selection is a competitive process based on the merits of the application and support materials. No match is required by the recipient, but in-kind or other services will enhance the application. A total of approximately $225,000 is expected to be available for the 2017 NH program.

Selected applications will be included in the New Hampshire state application package submitted to USDA for the 2017 SCBGP funds. The federal deadline as recently announced is month earlier than past years. NH application deadline is April 28, 2017 (in our office by 4 pm).

To apply, download program specifics and application details at:
http://agriculture.nh.gov/divisions/agricultural-development/grant-program.htm

Fadden Family Honored By NH Legislation

Fadden Family Honored By NH Legislation

fadden-news-1James Fadden, Jr., along with his father, James, Sr. and his son James, were all honored Thursday, February 19, with separate proclamations from the NH Senate and the NH House in recognition of their unprecedented 7th win of the Lawrence A. Carlisle Memorial Trophy awarded by the NH Maple Producers Association. Senator Jeff Woodburn announced the proclamation on the Senate floor. Former NHMPA President Peter Thomson made a ceremonial presentation of the coveted Carlisle cup to the Faddens before the entire Senate with several Board members from the NH Maple Producers present in the gallery. A second proclamation was issued to the Faddens by Speaker Jasper in his office with former Speaker Gene Chandler, other state representatives and the NHMPA entourage also present. Governor Hassan also gave her congratulations to the Faddens in a private Press Releases and News Speaker Chandler & Jim Fadden gathering in the Executive Council chambers.

James Fadden, Jr. of Fadden’s Sugar House in North Woodstock, NH was awarded the 2015 Carlisle Award by the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association on January 24, 2015 at the NHMPA annual meeting. The Fadden family has won the award 7 times for the finest quality maple syrup produced in the NH beating out 9 other entrants chosen for the final matchup. More information on the contest is available at www.nhmapleproducers.com.

FADDEN FAMILY HONORED BY NH LEGISLATIONThe Lawrence A. Carlisle Memorial Trophy is awarded annually by the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association for excellence in production of maple syrup. This award is made in recognition of the outstanding service and devotion of Lawrence A. Carlisle to the welfare and development of the Maple Industry of New Hampshire.

NH Syrup Production Near Average in 2014

NH Syrup Production Near Average in 2014

A survey of members of the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association indicated a 90% crop produced for the 2014 season. Non vacuum producers experienced a 30-50% decrease in production while vacuum producers averaged an 80-100% crop. The trend among larger producers was an increase in taps set while many smaller producers maintained or decreased taps in the 2014 season as compared to the 2013 season.

Cold weather conditions extending deeply into the prime sugaring time for New Hampshire caused many producers to remain frozen out much later than other years. This year, start times were fragmented into three time frames. In the southern part of the state, temperatures followed the average starting time for boiling, starting in around February 23, with February 18 as the earliest reported date. A break from a persistent frigid weather pattern created sap flow for producers using gravity fed vacuum or buckets, allowing an average start date of March 12. The northern part of the state reported an average start date of March 29, with the latest start date of April 6.

The season ended for most producers around April 12, with some sugar makers experiencing their last boil as early as April 6, and others as late as April 22.

All grades of syrup were made this year with Grade A Dark Amber creating the majority of the syrup, followed closely by Grade A Medium Amber, with Grade B and Grade A Light reported in lesser proportions. A minor amount of Commercial grade syrup was reported.

Overall, the season’s production was nearly a full crop. The persistence of cold weather was instrumental in creating some of the deficit experienced by shortening the season for some producers by 30-50%, but more evidently by limiting sap flow for producers who do not implement vacuum systems in their sugar bush.