Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-01-07
MAPLE SUGAR INDUSTRY.
lts Trade Conditions Discusses BY
Hon. v. 4. Spear.

non. " j. 0pSAf.
at the 18th annual meeting Of the Yer
mont Maple Sugar Makers association,
which opened in Burlington Tuesday,
Hon. v. l. Spear set the trade conditions
in the maple sugar industry before the
farmers in the following practical adj
dress -
Each season brings its own conditions
in all departments Of human industry
and especially is this the case with all ma
tural products which depend upon china
tic conditions. Perhaps OF ali natural
products, there is none in which produc-
ton is so uneven as in the maple sugar
crop. Ten days before q season closes,
no one can say whether the crop is to be
small, average or large, for two or three
days Of certain weather conditions will
overturn all calculations. For this rea-
son the business of handling the crop is
full OF surprises and disappointments,
and has in it large element OF specula-
ton.
The season Of 1908 had its fun share OF
the unexpected for tine trade. As the
season of 1907 had produced large crop,
1t was generally expected that this would
be followed BY a normal or small produc-
tion- The result was crop somewhat
larger than 1907 had produced, and the
crop Of Vermont was duplicated in other
large producing sections, notably New
York and Ohio. This made available a
larger amount Of maple goods than had
been on the market for many years aud
could produce but one result-a depres-
sion OF prices. Added to the large crop
to be handled was the general business
depression which had prevailed since Oc-
tober, 1907, and the uniavorable condi-
tion Of presidential election. With all
OF these things to contend against, 1t is
only surprising that prices have been
kept 80 high and that there is not Iarg-
er surplus unsold. From present indica-
tons there will be but a small amount Of
the 1908 crop in the hands of producers
or dealers when the 1909 crop is availa-
BILE.
This condition is due to quite an ex-
tent, in my judgment. to the operation Of
the Pure Food law. Many Of the leading
grocers Of the country have put in a sup
ply Of the pure goods where only blended
goods had formerly been sold, and sales OF
the pure goods have been very satisfac-
tory in most instances, and it is generally
expected that the demand for next year
will be larger than in the past. The pro-
ducers Of mixed or blended goods are
many Of them complaining that sales
have been small, and this has to some sx-
tent cut of the demand for the ordinary
tub sugar used for fiavoring these goods.
The sale Of pure maple goods has been
somewhat restricted by the large profit
that dealers think they must make. The
average grocer wants to make about 40
per cent profit on retail trade in maple
sugar and syrup. This puts the price
pretty high to the consumer and in many
cases, doubtless, less goods are sold than
would be at lower price. The matter
will probably regulate itself after little
time and, II It appears to the grocer that
be can sell more than double the goods
with 20 per cent profit than he can
with 40 per cent, he will sell at the
lower price to increase his sales.
Within the past few years there has
been a marked change in the method Of
selling maple goods. Formerly they
were disposed OF largely to commission
men in the cities, either directly by the
producer, or the producer sold to his To-
cal merchant, and the merchant con-
signed to the commission house. The
result Of this method was to load up the
: commission houses with all Of the crop
J A1LAuk ALG AAa0nAA VI AEAAs Al bA4E LAUN
was small, they could handle Il at fair
prices; but II large, they we're obliged e
sacrifice whatever they had on hand the
first OF June, as they bad no facilities for
carrying 1t through the hot weather, and
often the prices received were very low.
Many leading grocers and dealers would
buy their years supply in April and not
expect to buy again until the following
/ spring.
At present there is, comparatively, bui
q small per cent Of the product sent t
commission houses. Some producer.
have a market for portion or the whole
Of their product with consumers. A few
sell direct to some retail dealer, but each
year larger proportion Of the crop Il
disposed Of to packing houses located II
the state. The past year has taxed the
capacity Of such concerns in Vermont tS
the limit.
1t appears to me that the present de
mand OF the retail trade is to make il
necessary for a still larger proportion o
the crop to be handled by local concern
which make this their business through
out the year. The retail grocer TO-DAY
only BUYS at one time what he expects L
sell in three OF four weeks and demands
constant source Of supply as he needs tn
goods during the year. The produce
cannot take care Of this trade. He nigh
supply the April demand. but the balanc
of the year his customers would b
obliged to buy eIsew here. The whole
saler can supply this trade only partially
as the retailer is likely to call for pack
ages and forms OF goods that he does no
carry and can only be supplied by tn
plant which is fitted for this particula
work. So believe that in the future
much larger proportion Of the trade is I
be supplied by local concerns making
year-round business out Of the product
At the present time fully rs per cent Q
the crop reaches the consumers betwee
the first of September and the first Q
April. Usually the hardest market i
which to sell goods, and in which tn
lowest prices are received, is the Apr
market. This is due largely to the fac
that during this time thousands Of mapl
sugar makers are competing for business
; n one firm offers syrup at so cents, a
buyers in its locality consider so cent