The Branon Family
Our family is proud to say that we are a 7th generation (the addition of the grandchildren has gained us a new generation!) Vermont Maple Producer and Agriculturally based family. Tom & I purchased the Dairy farm/Maple Sugaring operation from Tom's parent's, Francis & Margaret in 1984 and have continued to expand and diversify the Maple Sugaring Business. We are very thankful that we were able to purchase the farm and land from them. Their hard work & drive allowed us this opportunity. The cows have gone but the land and crops are still worked and follow the Vermont Organic Standards. We continue to expand the operation and become better stewards of the land leaving the woods clean and healthy for generations to come. Our woods have been walked by staff of the Vermont Audubon Society and we have received classification as a “Bird Friendly Sugarbush” maintaining a healthy forest for the wildlife. We always meet challenges but manage to stay strong and offer quality products and great customer service. We deliver the same service that we expect as consumers.
The newest news in our family is our son Evan and his wife Jennah has recently had a beautiful edition to their family, Elsie Michael Branon was born 9/26/2020. To say the least Declan(7 1/2) and Kassidy(6) are overly excited as are we all are, to have a new cousin.
We are keeping busy in the kitchen with our NEW product release of Maple to Go! We are also excited for our son’s release of a NEW, maple-coffee-based, non-alcoholic aperitif. Check it out at Woodnose Drinks.
June 1st of 2013, we added 18 solar tracker panels to the land to produce electricity on the grid to run the operation. "Tapping the Sun" as we call it, is in full tilt and still producing generous energy from the sun still in 2020.
The end of July 2014, we decided that we were going to build a new sugarhouse! The first stick of lumber was laid on the concrete on September 1st and a new building went up. Thanks to great friends, family and our wonderful community for helping with the project along the way. It is beautiful and we enjoy having more room to work, as we had outgrown the old sugarhouse. It was our focus to make this Sugarhouse a clean and easy operational building. It is better than 10,000 square feet and meets our needs. We also open the building up to the public for tours and field trips for elementary, middle and high school students. We work along with the Vocational Forestry Group from Cold Hollow Career Center to come when we are in season and boiling for the trade school to use as an educational tool.
The building is home to two – 6 x 16 oil fired evaporators. As well as 3 Reverse Osmosis 8 membrane machines that concentrate the sap to a higher sugar content here at the main sugarhouse. In doing so, we try to conserve as much energy as we can, finding ways to continue to reduce our energy blueprint.
In 2016, we purchased a part of the Cold Hollow Mountain range which is just over 2000 acres from the Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy. It was a huge opportunity and task for us, our sons, and our team of employees. We have set up one part of the woods since then, although it may take us a few years to turn the entire property into a working sugarbush . With the next generation working with us and a great team of employees the task will be at hand.
We have been members with the Vermont Land Trust since 1997 in which we conserved our land in Fairfield and in 2016 we conserved over 2000 acres in Bakersfield. In 2003 we received Organic Certification with the Vermont Organic Farmers for our Maple Syrup, since then we added Maple Cream, Maple Sugar, Maple Vinegar, Maple Candy & Maple Jelly to the organic line of products. All the products we sell are made here by us. In 2016 we were certified a “Bird Friendly” Sugar Bush by the Vermont Audubon Society. Our Facility is also certified under the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association Voluntary Sugarhouse Certification Program. We take pride in having a very clean environment to process our products.
“The best part of Life is when your family becomes friends and your friends become family!”
