Maple syrup producers in Vermont worry that last week's ice storm damaged trees and tubing and could hurt next spring’s yield.
The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association tells NECN that growers near the Canadian border were hit hardest by the storm that dropped up to half an inch of ice in some places.
Branches snapped and the tubing that carries the maple sap to the sugarhouse for boiling was damaged in many places.
Syrup is serious business in Vermont, the nation's number one producer. In 2013, Vermont producers put more than 1.3 million gallons on the table.
The good news is the timing of the storm. Hitting in December gives producers time to make repairs and let damaged trees heal before the sap starts running in the spring.
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