Growing
Nature-Based
Enterprises in
Appalachia

Future Generations University and Virginia Tech are conducting a maple syrup producer survey in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland in order to learn about current maple syrup production and sales practices. Responses to this survey will inform our efforts to help increase consumer awareness and the production of maple syrup in our region.

No matter what size producer, your response to this survey is important. Once this data has been collected, sorted, and analyzed we will share the anonymous summary with each of you and the West Virginia and Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association. Please contact us if you have any questions. Contact Dr. Tom Hammett at: himal@vt.edu

Take Survey

Learning

Maple Education Programs: You can tap into one of Appalachia’s most abundant resources and build a successful syrup business with Future Generations University. Learn about sustainable land-use practices and woodlot management, while receiving maple syrup training through our certificate program, public seminars, or webinar series.

 

Research

Syrup Research: Stay up to date on where the sector is heading in Appalachia through Future Generations University’s ongoing research projects. Build a supplemental income stream for yourself through maple and alternative tree syrups such as birch, sycamore, and black walnut.

 

Action

Coaching: Ensure your syrup production success with comprehensive coaching, webinars, and resources as part of our network of organizations and producers across Appalachia. Email us with questions, comments, and feedback on how we can grow this traditional industry sustainably.

 

Appalachia is not the first place that comes to mind when most of us think of maple syrup, but with more tappable maple trees than Vermont, it should be! This unique collection of recipes and family traditions are from those who collect and cook with maple products from West Virginia and the surrounding mountains of Central Appalachia.

Out of the Woods: Enriching Your Maple Business

A Free Webinar Series

This monthly webinar series covers a broad array of topics of interest to the maple syrup producer: from tree science and woodlot management to marketing and taxes. Featuring industry experts and producers, each session will have a presentation or two followed by Q&A. Stay tuned as the schedule rolls out.

Join us for our next webinar!

Watch free webinars for maple producers

Standards and Grading

Keeping Safe During COVID: Steps to Keeping Your Agribusiness Open

Navigating the WV Sugar Operation Review Preparedness Manual

Record-keeping for Production & Business

Sanitation Session

Climate Change Impacts and Risks to Southern Maple Production

The Science Behind The Sweetness of Sap Flow

Enrich Your Maple Business

Finding New Markets

Business & Finances

Funding for part of this webinar series was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM190100XXXXG074. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Our Partners in Service

  • West Virginia Department of Agriculture
  • West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
  • The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
  • West Virginia Rural Business Development Division of the USDA
  • West Virginia Veterans and Heros to Agriculture
  • West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition
  • Appalachian Sustainable Development
  • Garret County Economic Development
  • West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association
  • Agricultural Marketing Service—USDA, ACER Access
  • Experience Learning

Research

  • Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
  • Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Robert C Byrd Institute at Marshall University
  • USDA Northeast SARE
  • Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment