Maple institute taking marketing cues from northeast Ohio’s wine industry

BURTON, Ohio – The Northeast Ohio Maple Producers Committee and the Geauga County Ohio State University Extension have scheduled the 68th annual Northeast Ohio Maple Institute for Jan. 25 and 26.
The two-day maple event will again be held at Joe Miller’s Window Shop, 15020 Shedd Road in Burton, Ohio. The Window Shop is located on the northeast corner of Shedd Road and state Route 168, approximately 2 miles south of Burton Village.
The Institute begins with a trade show, plus a new Taste of Maple Competition. The Taste of Maple will demonstrate that you can use maple syrup on more than pancakes. The Jan. 25 night program is free. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
Speakers. The featured speaker Jan. 26 will be Donniella Winchell, executive director of the Ohio Wine Producers Association. Her program will show how Ohio wines have captured a place as a major player in the wine industry. Donniella will relate how many of the same marketing techniques can be applied to marketing maple products.
This year’s program will also feature Mark Wilthew, service forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. His program on crop tree release will feature work done in local sugarbushes over the last 10 years.
Rounding out the program will be a producer panel on using the latest technology in maple production, followed by a roundtable discussion and updates.
The tradeshow and registration begins at 8 a.m. with the program beginning promptly at 9 a.m. The registration fee is $20 per person.
More information. For more information and to register, contact Geauga Ohio State University Extension at 440-834-4656 or visit www.geauga.osu.edu and click on maple programs and events. Registration is due by Jan. 18.