Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-13
WILL HOLD PRODUCT
FOR HIGHER PRICE
Sugar Makers in Four Counties
Claim That Amount Offered
by Buyers is Less Than Cost
of Production-Looking for
Other Markets
Other Markets

More than 30 maple sugar makers. rep
resenting practically all the maple sugar
men in Franklin. Chittenden Addison
and Lamoille counties, met in the Office
OF the county farm bureau Thursday
afternoon to discuss and take acton con-
corning the price which the dealers have
offered them for their product. 1t Is
claimed by the maple sugar makers that
the price which has been offered Is far
below the cost of production. and it was
the sentiment of the meeting to hold on
to the crop before selling at such
figure.
The dealers have offered 50 per gallon
for ungraded syrup IN barrel lots and
% cents per pound for the sugar. This
is in excess of the price paid last year but
the farmers claim that the cost of pro-
duction in many cases was much moro
than 50 per gallon and in the lowest cases
was So An inventory OF what goods the
farmers present had on hand showed
them to POSSESS 300 gallons of syrup and
1900 pounds Of maple sugar. They in
reality represent ten times that amount
and II all keep to their word not to sell
at the price offered but little maple sugar
will be bought In these four counties-
In other sections of the State similar
meetings are being held, and 1t was tho
opinion of the farmers that they would
hang on to the crop until better price
was offered.
According to the statements Of tn;
farmers. the expense OF sugaring this
year was far In excess Of any previous
year. Labor was almost impossible TO
get and then was obtained at . great
cost In Franklin county several OF the
farmers said that they had been offered
a good price for the timber in their
bushes and If they could rot make sugar
at respectable profit they would sci.
out The lowest price which they wiz
consider II 2.g per gallon. according TO
the sentiment yesterday. Last year tho
dealers paid s1.65 and slT. The dealers
have alread bought some Of the crop and
were buying Thursday. but II Is not be-
lieved that more than one-fifth of the
crop has been surrendered In Chttenden
county at the price offered by the buyers.
Charles Moran of Jericho Wa. elected
chairman of the meeting and he appoint
ed a committee of two from each county
/, to confer with the dealers and see WHIST
can be done In regard TO getting better
price. II they are unsuccessful in this
he farmers will consider other means Of
selling their product. l.. C. Mulholland.
state marketing agent, Of Montpelier.
was present He knew where ne could
get rid of standard goods. All present
We're In favor of forming some orsanl1a-
ton for the purpose of standardixing the
price of goods. The plan of Mr.. Null
holland would be to get an organization
In each county and have the goods grad
ed by an expert He told of tho increased
markets which might be gotten. At the
present time the big city trade has really
never been educated UP to know what
pure maple sugar Is. C. A. Badger. pres
ident of the Vermont Dairymen's assoc
citation telephoned his ,egrets at being
unable to be present hut said That his
ASSOCIATION would be behind any move
ment toward forming county organiza-
lions. II. r. Little of Franklin county
was also In favor of organizing and grad
ing the product.