Staff Reports
For the last five months, Tim and Angie Burton have prepared for major events and festivals by filling more than 100,000 bottles with maple syrup produced or aged on their family farm in Medora.
Now, four of the events where Burton’s Maplewood Farm was planning to provide samples and sell syrup have been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Friday was the last night Burton’s will offer samples and sell syrup at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, since the theme park is closed beginning today. The event was planned to last another 34 days.
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Three events were already canceled: Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show, March 3 through 22; Kentucky Crafted Market in Lexington, today and Sunday; and One of a Kind Show in Chicago, April 25 and 26.
“The cancellation of events like these leaves small artisan food producers with tons of product and gaping holes in their revenue opportunities,” Tim said. “We typically would have sold thousands of bottles of syrup and condiments at these events and connected with countless new customers. Entrepreneurs just like us all over the country are facing the same dilemma.”
Burton is calling on fans of artisan foods to show their support for him and his peers by going to their websites and buying online.
“These kinds of events are a big part of the business plan for artisan food producers, so these cancellations could literally put people out of business,” Burton said. “We’re not asking for handouts. We’re just asking people who love our products to buy online.”
Burton’s maple syrups range from the Class B Grade to syrup aged in bourbon, whiskey, rum and peach brandy barrels procured from distillers around the country. New this year are condiments, including maple orange marmalade, maple bourbon barbecue sauce and maple pineapple glaze.
Twelve-ounce bottles of B Grade syrup are $30, and the barrel-aged syrups sell for $45. Shipping is free through April 13 with the discount code 4theloveofmaple. Visit the store online at burtonsmaplewoodfarm.com.