| The maple sugaring season In New Hampshire, which began early because of warm weather, is almost over.
But the sap is still flowing in Jim Fadden’s neighborhood. He taps trees in North Woodstock, where he told Roger Wood that colder weather and a ground covering of snow have helped extend the season. If you’ll pardon the pun, some makers of cereals and other products are trying to “sap” the profits from the pure maple sugarists. To that issue, Jim Fadden, president of the NH Maple Producers Association has been urging members of the Congressional delegations in the region to back their position that they’re being undermined by “fake” marketing. And the efforts have paid off, at least as far as Congressional support. All four members of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation, as well as Vermont and other states have signed a letter calling for an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration of syrup that confuses consumers. In part, the letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. reads, “We are writing today with significant concerns about the harm being done to consumers and to maple sugar producers as the result of potentially false and misleading labeling of products that contain neither maple syrup nor real maple flavor. Specifically, we call your attention to the attached letter signed by 12 maple producers’ associations representing nine states and two countries.” |