NAMSC/IMSI ANNUAL MEETINGS
by Mary Douglass

The combined North American Maple Syrup Council (NAMSC) and International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI) annual meetings were held in Portland, Maine this past October. I was honored to represent you and serve as the MMSA representative for both groups. The most important work of the NAMSC, in my opinion, is the allocation of funds in support of maple research. Are you aware that most manufacturers and suppliers of maple containers voluntarily contribute one cent per container to a Maple Research Fund? This has been an important funding resource for ongoing maple research. When you buy maple containers, 1 cent of their cost goes to support this fund. Be sure your suppliers are participating in the program. Together we can make a large contribution to the maple industry, relatively painlessly. This year, over $35,000 in research funds were allocated to 11 projects covering many aspects of sugaring-including adulteration detection, ozone treatment, tubing sanitation, ice storm recovery, fertilization and maple value-added products.

At the IMSI Board meeting, we spent considerable time discussing syrup storage, and more specifically, barrels. There is a growing concern in the industry about the quality of barrels being used for bulk storage. If you are a small producer and think this has no effect on you, think again. If we look at the worldwide crop as a whole, nearly all syrup is stored in barrels at some point. The quality of our product and its reputation as a pure, natural product, is definitely tied to how it gets stored. Two concerns are being addressed: first, most producers recycle barrels. Even if they were purchased new as food-grade barrels, many were manufactured to be one-time use barrels. This is not a problem in and of itself, as long as unfit barrels are being properly weeded out of the system. Second, many barrels in use come into the industry as used barrels. There are several concerns here are the barrels food-grade and what has been in them previously? Even food-grade barrels used just once previously can contain oils or odors that are virtually impossible to clean-which can taint our pure product. Worse, some storage containers may be coming from non-food use sources. An example is the stainless steel used for computer chemical storage. It is critical that producers review storage containers carefully before use. This cannot be an economics issue alone. Certainly, safety and consumer perceptions must be considered, as well.

You can be sure there will be much more discussion and research done in this area. In the meantime, the IMSI passed the following resolution urging members to avoid using any containers, bulk or otherwise, that have not been proven to be food safe:
"Since maple sugarmakers and processors are constantly seeking additional and replacement storage for maple syrup, the IMSI makes the following recommendations: That any storage containers being examined for purchase have documentation of food grade status from the manufacturer. The IMSI further recommends that no storage containers be recycled to maple syrup storage without legal documentation of current food grade status."

The meetings had an underlying somber mood because of the tragic and untimely death of Sumner Williams, assistant director of the Proctor Maple Research Center, in Underhill Center, Vermont, just a week before the start of the conference. He was killed in a freak accident at the Center and his death leaves a huge hole not only for the family and friends who loved him, but for the entire maple industry, as well. Sumner was arguably the best source on the industry for information regarding maple; he knew who to contact, where to find research results, both current and ancient, and as operator of the research center sugarhouse, was knowledgeable about production practices. He served on numerous boards and committees related to the industry. Recently he initiated a Leadership Campaign to fund an Endowed Professorship and a Maple Research Endowment Fund. Both of these projects ensure that funding for maple research will be available well into the next century. Fittingly, both the NAMSC and IMSI chose to honor Sumner's work and his memory by making contributions to the Research Endowment Fund.

I'd also like to acknowledge the Maine Maple Syrup Producers for their hard work and hospitality in hosting the meetings. As we all know too well, it is a formidable task to pull these meetings together. But it is an important gathering of industry representatives, manufacturers, regulators and other leaders of the industry. I appreciate the opportunity to share ideas and concerns. They also chose a delightful city. Greg and I thoroughly enjoyed Portland, got a chance to visit the huge and famous L.L. Bean Store and even got a taste of that wonderful Maine lobster. Consider attending an annual meeting yourself. It is always in a beautiful and interesting location and the company is top-rate! Put it on your 2000 calendar to attend in Burlington, Vermont next October!

As a final note on the meetings, I was elected to serve as Vice President of the IMSI for another year. I look forward to representing you and to serving the rest of the industry as we continue the IMSI work of promoting and protecting this delicious, pure product-maple syrup. I will also be chairing a newly formed committee that will study and review IMSI by-laws. If you have questions or concerns about our industry, please feel free to contact me and I'll do what I can to help.