lets get selling
So I’m all ready to start selling my maple syrup through Craig’s list. I must say that I am pretty happy about how it’s going so far. I can’t decide whether I should sell it all directly myself or whether I should find a health food store or grocery store in the area that would like to purchase it. There is still the online way of doing it but again I have a limited supply.
I’ve also noticed that there is maple syrup in this area that is certified organic. I don’t really know how to go about getting my maple syrup certified organic but I can say it was probably made more “organically” than any other type of syrup in the area (wood fired).
I have uploaded a picture of all of the stuff I brought back from St. Joseph Island. I also finished up the labels that I’m going to put on the maple syrup to drive people to the website so they can see exactly where this maple syrup comes from. I think this is a real selling feature to the product.
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts for a while now and it’s good to see a new enthusiasm now you have a place to work from.
At first I was unsure where St Joseph Island was, but some Internet searches helped me out and it looks like a really great place. I’ve been all over Manitoulin Island but never thought about visiting St.Joseph’s.
I’ve helped make syrup, using traditional buckets and wood fired boiling, at a friend’s place in the Madawaska Highlands. You can find photos at http://www.globurban.com/maplestuff.html I also publish an annual listing of Southern Ontario Maple Festivals.
I really wouldn’t worry about ‘certified organic’ syrup. I can’t imagine how maple syrup could not be organic unless it’s being adulterated somehow.
Selling via Craiglist can work, but I’d find the shipping part difficult. Definitely only plastic bottles, and then you’d need to make very sure that there’d be no leakage. Craiglist also has a bit of a problem reputation for scams and ripoffs that you might want to avoid. It would be better to sell directly via your own website. You’d also have to look into the govt regulations about selling food products across borders. I’ve been selling grassfed Ontario bison meat, but regulations keep my sales within Ontario.
Have you heard about the new spiles that have a mechanism to avoid sap back-flowing into the tree? It’s supposed to reduce bacteria entering the tree and plugging up the hole, thus increasing production. My concern is for the tree, can they take the extra stress of draining more of their sap. Here’s a link: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/?Page=News&storyID=14826
Good luck with your project. I’m subscribed to your RSS feed and looking forward to your syrup adventures.
August 20, 2009 at 3:03 pm