Maple syrup production gets off to early start across Vermont [Video]

POPULAR INDUSTRIES IS OFF TO AN EARLY START. YEAH, CHANGING WEATHER MEANS PRODUCTION IS UP FOR THE MAPLE SIRUP BUSINESS. NBC5’S MADELINE AHMADI SPOKE TO A SUGAR MAKER WHO SHARED THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEIR RECENT SUCCESS. HERE AT THE BRANON FAMILY MAPLE ORCHARDS IN FAIRFIELD, THE SAP IS BOILING. TAKE A LOOK RIGHT HERE. THEIR CO-OWNER, CECILE BRANDON, SAYS THAT THE EARLY BOIL IS DUE TO FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES THAT THEY SAW IN RECENT WEEKS. THIS MATCHES THE ORCHARD’S EARLIEST BOIL EVER, AND WHILE THE SAP SUGAR PERCENTAGE IS LOW RIGHT NOW, THE EARLY START MEANS MORE MAPLE IN THE FUTURE. IT GOT COLD ENOUGH. THE TREES WERE DORMANT, OF COURSE, AND FROZE. SO EVERYBODY STARTED TAPPING. YOU KNOW, TO TO GET A START ON IT. AND …