Re-Post In the midst of a maple shortage, one artisan is giving big brands a run for their money!

Extra, extra! Get your maple syrup today. This small artisan business is doing reasonably well despite the global shortage in Quebec that has them digging into their reserve. 

Meet Ralph Morse, a local artisan in Cooperstown, New York, who is revolutionizing the maple market. Hidden within the woods outside of the baseball birthplace lies a small maple production run by one man. Together they make various types of syrups, salts, butter, gummies, and even woodwork. To be as sustainable as possible and care for the forest, their products are causing even a bigger roar! From restaurants to local boutiques and farmer’s markets, Ralph’s Cooperstown Mapleworks is making it hard to believe that there’s a global shortage. 

Ralph makes pure gold! He is a one-person show who can tap quite a few acres of maple trees and works way over 1,000 gallons of sap/maple a season! He also has a running system of boiling, reverse osmosis, and sustainable practices. 

Every product is straight from his backyard, the woods filled with blue tubes connecting every maple tree with the main production machinery. Ralph’s practices are strictly sustainable, from ensuring the forest is healthy by cutting down harmful trees to keeping it clean and prosperous. The wood cut down is later used to fuel the machines that power up his whole maple production.

 Absolutely nothing gets thrown away. And even the maple that might be a different color, flavor, or too hard can be used for products such as maple salt or gummies!

Ralph's products are booming, from boutiques to restaurants purchasing from him exclusively in massive amounts. So much so that, he is almost sold out for the winter season. “You can tell the difference between store-bought maple that is made from corn syrup and sugar and literally zero maples! It’s gross. We use Ralph’s maple, salts, and butter for our restaurant!” Said Julian Gialanella, owner of The Blue Mingo Grill in Cooperstown cult restaurant. With so much abundance, what exactly is causing the global shortage? 

Ralph is doing great for a small business, unlike the situation in Quebec. According to the Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP), Quebec produces 72% of global maple. Unfortunately, this year was much warmer than usual. “In 2021, an early thaw caused the sap to start flowing simultaneously across the province, and unusually warm temperatures in April brought the harvest season to an abrupt halt. Maple producers are at the mercy of Mother Nature.”- Stated the QMSP. But don’t worry. Your waffles or dry rubs will still be savory and sweet! Canada is making 7 million more tree taps to help offset the adverse effects of 2021. 

Despite the shortage and demands, Ralph is expanding his business by building an even bigger building on his property to tap even more trees! ”Now I am building a new sugar house, expanding, and buying new equipment, so it’s that growth process.” Said Ralph as he slaps a bourbon barrel for one of his maple products. Ralph is slowly but surely growing his business and showing New York how sweeter and more sustainable his various kinds of maple syrups and products are than a big corporation!

And, if you are in Cooperstown or have a credit card, you can get all of your sweet needs met in person or online by the Cooperstown Mapleworks!