Bill to increase Maine maple sugar industry signed into law

RUMFORD — State Rep. Matt Peterson was excited to learn last week that his Maine Maple Products bill was signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage.

The legislation establishes a task force to study the potential for expanding the Maine maple sugar industry.

Currently serving his second term in the Legislature, Peterson, D-Rumford, said last Monday that this is an important step that strengthens the brand of Maine maple products, creates new job opportunities and expands export markets.

“Finding ways to extend the sustainable use of our natural resources — like the Maine woods — is a key to our long-term economic health as a state,” Peterson said.

“This initiative is a particularly sweet business development effort.”

Peterson said Thursday that Maine Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb will now appoint members to the new Maine Maple Commission.

“They will begin their work of looking at the maple products industry with an eye to how we can grow and expand this part of our agricultural production,” he said.

The commission will report back to the Legislature by Dec. 7 with recommendations for policies or programs that it should implement to grow the state's maple products industry.

Peterson called the bill “a real validation of the citizen legislative process.”

In the spring of 2010 Peterson was contacted by Chris Botka, a Rangeley Plantation constituent who is a small-scale maple producer, Jodi Quintero, spokeswoman for the House Democrats Office, said recently in a news release.

Through an arrangement with the Maine Department of Conservation, Botka sustainably harvests maple sap from Maine lands, which he brands and markets for the Rangeley Lakes area.

She said Botka met with Peterson to learn why Maine wasn't doing more to promote Maine maple products on a regional, national and international level.

From that meeting, Peterson introduced the legislation that LePage signed into law on June 6.

"Maine's Maple Syrup Industry is about to shock the world as we begin the process to capitalize on Maine's potential," Botka stated in the news release.

"The task force will open doors of opportunity which will have a positive economic impact for Maine people and businesses.”

Botka credited Peterson's determination and the bipartisan support from all legislators for getting the effort going.

“I believe and they have proved it is time to move Maine forward!" he said.

“Every session, I sponsor a limited number of bills and work hard to see that each one works through the process,” Peterson said.

“It is very satisfying to take an idea, turn it into a piece of legislation and guide it through the process — especially when that spark is ignited and originates from a resident of District 92, as was the case with this bill.”

“The real reward comes when the idea is implemented,” he said. "I hope these efforts will replicate the strides we have made in managing and marketing other signature products, like Maine potatoes, Maine wild blueberries and Maine lobsters."

"Can our delicious Maine maple syrup be far behind as another icon?"

SOURCE: sunjournal