Ohio Maple Days – Morrow County

New food safety laws, sap collection systems, syrup grading systems and more will be featured at this year’s Ohio Maple Days, which are January 21 in Morrow County, January 22 in Wayne County, and January 23 in Geauga County.

The events (the same at each location) offer educational sessions for commercial and hobby maple producers. “They’re timed to help producers get ready for the coming season” – organizer Gary Graham, OSU Extension maple syrup specialist. Ohio’s maple syrup season usually starts sometime in February.

How to Reach More Customers
Graham will present “Marketing: Sweet Signs for a Sweet Product.”

How to Meet Food Safety Laws
Dan Milo, food safety supervisor with the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Food Safety, will speak on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 and Ohio’s new laws governing syrup sales and inspections.

How to Size Tubing, Make Candy
Steve Childs, maple specialist at New York’s Cornell University, will give sessions on tubing and vacuum systems, making maple candy as a value-added product, and Cornell’s latest maple research (including consumer preferences in maple candy).

Trade Show, Hydrometer Testing
Each event also will have a trade show; reports from OSU Extension and the Ohio Maple Producers Association; free testing of hydrometers and Vermont Temporary Maple Syrup Grading Kits, which attendees are encouraged to bring; and a session called “Maple Nuggets” for sharing questions, ideas and information. A complete list of the events’ topics and speakers is posted at go.osu.edu/2016OhioMapleDays.

• Jan. 21, Morrow County, 8 am to 4:30 pm at Lutheran Memorial Camp, 2790 SR 61, Fulton
• Jan. 22, Wayne County, 8 am to 4:30 pm at Mennonite Christian Assembly Church, 10664 Fredericksburg
• Jan. 23, Geauga County, 8 am to 4:30 pm at Joe J.S. Miller’s Window Shop, 15020 Shedd Road, Burton

The Geauga County event will have an additional trade show on January 22 (5-9 pm) in the same location.

How to Register
Preregistration is $30 and includes lunch, refreshments and handouts. The deadline to preregister is January 12. Payment at the door is $35 and doesn’t include lunch. The January 22 Geauga County trade show is $3 at the door.

To register, send your name, contact information, the location you wish to attend, and check or money order (payable to OSU Extension) to OSU Extension – Holmes County, 75 E Clinton St, Millersburg, Ohio 44654.

The events are sponsored by OSU Extension’s Maple Syrup Program and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. For more information, contact Graham at graham.124@osu.edu or 330-674-3015, or download the program and registration form at go.osu.edu/2016OhioMapleDays.