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Michigan's maple syrup farming is sweet for the economy

A maple tree is tapped for syrup.
mi-maplesyrup.com
A maple tree is tapped for syrup.

A maple tree is tapped for syrup.
Credit mi-maplesyrup.com
A maple tree is tapped for syrup.

The first farm crop to be harvested in Michigan is ready. 

Michigan ranks number five in maple syrup production each year, and according to the Michigan Maple Syrup Association, that sweet syrup helps pump nearly $2.5 million into Michigan's economy each year.

But there are plenty of maple trees in Michigan that are not being tapped. So we wondered, if we have all these trees, why aren't more people making maple syrup?

Michael Farrell's book is called The Sugar Makers Companion: An Integrated Approach to Producing Syrup from Maple, Birch, and Walnut Trees.

Farrell joins us today.

Listen to the full interview above. 

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