EMMET COUNTY - Northern Michigan maple syrup producers are facing a divided season this year as some farms recover from a devastating ice storm while others prepare for tapping. Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery will not tap trees this season due to significant canopy damage, while nearby Out of the Woods Farm is moving forward with its production schedule.
The 2023 ice storm caused varying degrees of damage across the region, with some orchards losing large portions of their tree crowns. This loss of canopy directly impacts sap production, forcing some producers to prioritize forest cleanup and recovery over their traditional spring harvest.
For Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery, the damage from last year’s storm means the farm will not be tapping trees at all this season. Owners reported that large portions of the tree canopy were lost, which significantly impacts the ability of the trees to produce sap. This spring, the operation will remain focused on recovery rather than production.
Christi Petersen, co-owner of Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery, said the extent of the damage was overwhelming when first discovered. “When I stood in the woods and I saw that damage, the first thing that I thought of is, how are we ever going to get this cleaned up? That was my number one concern and heartache,” Petersen said.
The recovery process is particularly difficult because the business was built from the ground up without traditional financing. Petersen said the “grassroots” nature of the winery means the cleanup requires significant physical effort. “My biggest struggle when the ice storm happened is pure manual labor because we started this business grassroots,” Petersen said. “We started it. No banks, all our labor, all our money, I mean and we just put in hours and hours and hours beyond anyone’s comprehension.”
While the trees are expected to recover, the timeline for full production is lengthy. Petersen said the sugar content in the sap should return within a few years, but the structural damage to the trees will take much longer to mend. “The full growth of the crowns will probably take ten years to regrow the full crowns,” Petersen said.
A short drive away, the situation is different for other producers like Out of the Woods Farm. That operation is moving forward with its season and is currently preparing for tapping to begin. Producers there noted that the success of the season depends heavily on weather conditions, as trees must thaw before sap can move upward.
The process of turning sap into syrup is a long one, requiring high volumes of raw material. On average, it takes 40 gallons of sap to produce just one gallon of syrup. This 40-to-one ratio is standard for producers starting with a high-quality sap concentration.
Out of the Woods Farm plans to begin tapping trees in February, depending on local weather and snow conditions. Maple Moon Sugarbush & Winery will continue to focus on manual labor and forest cleanup throughout the spring season.