With a maple syrup shortage looming, an unexpected state is stepping up to the plate with solutions. Let's see where your next pancake topper may be coming from.
We know New Jersey for the Sopranos, huge malls, the Turnpike, and chemical plants, but get ready to add an unexpected item to that list - Marone, they're making maple syrup! With warnings of an impending pancake syrup shortage on the horizon, a university in southern New Jersey is exploring alternatives.
New Jersey Maple Syrup
Stockton University has been using federal grants to tap into the red maple trees surrounding its campus to produce syrup. While NJ's local red maples don't have the high sugar content of the trees used in maple hotbeds like Vermont, Stockton has gotten creative. They're using specialized methods to boost the sugar levels before cooking the sap into rich, flavorful syrup. Their product has a beautiful dark color and a slightly smoky taste from the wood-fired evaporation process.
Small Batch but Big Hopes
This year Stockton expects to produce around 55 gallons of syrup from over 4,000 gallons of sap. While not close to as much major producers, it's decent output for trees growing this far south, and they're just starting. So, next time you're stocking up on pancake toppings, keep an eye out for Joisey maple. It may be the new place to go for sciroppo d'acero.
