by Becky King

Gerald Nelson
(810)724-0004
1189 N Blacks Corner
Imlay City, Michigan

People find inspiration in the oddest places. for Gerald Nelson, a recent addition to the MMSA board of directors, he was inspired by a book read to him at a young age. "It was back in the country school," he said. "They read a book to us about making maple syrup and I wanted to do it ever since." Looking back on that childhood memory, Nelson now chuckles and states, "My dream's come true."

Nelson began making syrup in 1992, the year his daughter was born, and became a member in the MMSA in the mid to late 90s. Like many producers, he had only about 20 taps in the yard, but quickly grew that into the operation he has today. "We're progressively growing," he said. He then went on to compare the syrup industry to boating - producers always get bigger and boaters always want a bigger boat.

Currently the syrup is produces on a 30 x 8 wood-fired pan and they are planning on installing a steam away for the 2009 season. In 2008, their yield was 214 gallons of syrup, coming from a little under 1000 taps. Next year, Nelson reports they will break the 1000-tap mark. The majority of those taps sits on approximately 25 acres of their farm, with another 450 taps that they rent. Nelson said that his family helps a lot with the operation and has a good friend who enjoys helping as well.

In the off season (April-November for the Nelsons), they run a sod farm. But Nelson says that most of their sales happen around Christmas. "We sell both wholesale and retail,' he said. There's a specialty food shop here and we wholesale to crafters. But in November and December, we go to the Royal Oak Market and really sell a lot of glass." With the sweet-corn stands that pop up along Michigan roads in August, Nelson tries to sell their syrup as well.

When asked about some of his favorite maple memories, Nelson stumbled, "Wow-there's just so many." After pausing g to think, he continued, "probably putting up the first line of tubing. It was running pretty fast and the kids were at the other end catching the sap in their mouths." Nelson laughed. Obviously that sap never made it to the boiling pan...