Institution: Centre ACER

Showing 1 – 8 of 8 resources

How controlled inoculation of sap tubing with Pseudomonadota strains may influence maple syrup quality

The study recently published in Canadian Journal of Microbiology and available in open access consisted in the inoculation of the sap collection system with three Pseudomonadota strains and to assess the microbial and organoleptic quality of maple sap and syrup (Gagnon et al., 2025). This work represents a significant step: rather than simply characterizing microbial communities, the study tested whether an intentional inoculation of selected bacterial strains into tubing systems can steer microbial succession and influence syrup quality.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
December 15, 2025

Tapping Below the Lateral Line for a Sustainable Use of Maple Resource

In recent years, someproducers have seen the benefit of tapping maples below the lateral line for multiple reasons. The main reason is to access a larger area of healthy wood on the trunk. This is because the maple tree produces a compartmentalization zone inside the trunk following tapping, which isolates the wound left by the tap hole.

By opting for a tapping pattern that respects the necessary spacing of taps from year to year based on their size and number, the likelihood of tapping into compartmentalized wood is minimized. If, in addition, the tapping area is expanded by allowing tapping below the lateral line, the exploitation of the trunk surface is further optimized, ensuring the sustainability of sap collection.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
March 15, 2025

A Promising Alternative to Defoamers for Maple Production

Foam development in the evaporator is a phenomenon often encountered in maple production (Martin, 2011). As it passes through the evaporator, the boiling sap can begin to foam quickly, especially at a later stage of the production season. When excessive foaming occurs, the use of a foam control agent, commonly called “antifoaming agent” or “defoamer” in the maple syrup industry, sometimes becomes necessary to avoid problematic overnows (low productivity, loss of product, cleaning challenges, safety, etc.).

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
December 15, 2024

Maple syrup production from sap preconcentrated to ultra high °Brix by membrane technology: Composition and properties

Maple syrup is produced typically from maple sap concentrated by nanofiltration or reverse osmosis at a moderate °Brix level ranging from 6 to 16 °Brix followed by heat evaporation. Recently, new membrane processes have been developed to concentrate maple sap to ultra-high °Brix reaching up to 40 °Brix. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of this ultra-high concentration of sap on the composition, the properties and the cost of corresponding maple syrup. Results showed some differences in chemical composition and properties between syrups produced from low and ultra-high concentration of sap. Syrups produced from ultra-high °Brix concentrated sap had lower concentrations of potassium and polyphenols, a lighter color and distinctive flavor. This was mainly observed when no modification were applied to the heating pattern in the evaporator pans. However, syrups produced by modulation of the heating pattern in the evaporator had color, flavor and taste similar to control syrups. These results demonstrate that syrups with comparable sensory properties can be obtained from low and ultra-high concentrated sap by adjusting the heating time depending on the initial °Brix. The concentration process to ultra high °Brix allows for a concomitant reduction of the production costs and a modulation of syrup quality.

Publication:
Food Control
Date:
January 1, 2022

Chemical composition and properties of maple sap treated with an ultra high membrane concentration process

Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis are membrane concentration processes originally used by maple syrup producers to preconcentrate the sap to a moderate °Brix level (8–16 °Brix). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of new membrane technology to concentrate maple sap to ultra-high °Brix and to investigate the effect of this concentration on the chemical composition and physical properties of final sap concentrate. Maple sap was concentrated up to 42 °Brix using two industrial membrane units. The contents of main solutes increased with the °Brix of concentrates depending on the specific rejection rate of the membranes tested. A slight and significant decrease was observed in the availability of some solutes such as K+, Mn++ and polyphenols in ultra-high-concentrated sap. However, the apparent organoleptic and physical properties of these concentrates have not been altered. According to the results of this, the new membrane process allows to produce ultra-high °Brix concentrate of maple sap with interesting properties. However, further works have to be performed on this technology to more precisely determine the highest °Brix level that will minimise the affect on chemical composition and properties of concentrated sap and the corresponding maple syrup.

Publication:
Food Control
Date:
May 1, 2021

Sulfite Concentration in Pure Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a natural product free of artificial coloring or other additives. Regardless, some publications mention that maple syrup may contain sulfites. In this study, which is conducted by Center ACER in collaboration with UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, direct measurements of sulfites concentration in maple syrup samples collected during 2011 and 2012 were made.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
October 1, 2013

Technical Position Paper on Air Injection

The use of air injection technology in the maple industry can be defined as: the forced introduction of air through a series of perforated pipes submerged in the boiling sap in the front and /or back pan of a maple syrup evaporator. Several studies conducted in recent years have investigated aspects of the use of air injection technology in the process of maple syrup production.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
June 1, 2009

Effects of Various Filters on Sap Quality and Characteristics

Sap filters can remove residue or debris, which may inadvertently enter the sap through the collection system or during storage. Moreover, filtering may improve the storage potential of maple sap, improve sap quality especially during mid- to late-season and help in keeping the evaporator system clean.

Publication:
Maple Syrup Digest
Date:
February 1, 2008