Episode 45: Producer Spotlight - Scott Zehr

But before we dive into my discussion with Scott, it's time for our Ask a Maple Specialist segment, where each month I answer one of your questions on the air.

To hear your question on the podcast, go to cornellmaple.com and click on the Sweet Talk, or if you are listening on the Spotify app right now, you can comment directly on this episode.

I look forward to answering your questions.

Now let's jump into today's Q&A.

We periodically get questions about utilizing older maple equipment.

This is often when individuals purchase property that may come with maple sugaring equipment.

I'm glad that people ask us these questions.

There are very real food safety concerns with older maple producing equipment.

Many older tanks and sap buckets, evaporator pans, use lead-based solder and that lead leaches into maple sap or syrup, especially maple sap as it is oftentimes acidic.

And we need to remember we are concentrating sap 40 or 50 times, which also concentrates any lead that may be in the sap.

One option is to surface test the metal or solder joints for lead.

But I would also suggest if you make some syrup on that equipment is to send a sample to a lab for lead testing as well.

And if you're unsure, it's best to probably not even make maple syrup on it.

Older equipment that may have lead should not be used at all.

Galvanized metal tanks or buckets should not be used either, although you can use a plastic liner or bag inside of those older maple sap buckets, which is a cheap way to still be able to utilize the iconic sap buckets.

I know it can be expensive to replace equipment, but food safety is top priority.

But before we dive into my discussion with Scott, it's time for our Ask a Maple Specialist segment, where each month I answer one of your questions on the air.

To hear your question on the podcast, go to cornellmaple.com and click on the Sweet Talk, or if you are listening on the Spotify app right now, you can comment directly on this episode.

I look forward to answering your questions.

Now let's jump into today's Q&A.

We periodically get questions about utilizing older maple equipment.

This is often when individuals purchase property that may come with maple sugaring equipment.

I'm glad that people ask us these questions.

There are very real food safety concerns with older maple producing equipment.

Many older tanks and sap buckets, evaporator pans, use lead-based solder and that lead leaches into maple sap or syrup, especially maple sap as it is oftentimes acidic.

And we need to remember we are concentrating sap 40 or 50 times, which also concentrates any lead that may be in the sap.

One option is to surface test the metal or solder joints for lead.

But I would also suggest if you make some syrup on that equipment is to send a sample to a lab for lead testing as well.

And if you're unsure, it's best to probably not even make maple syrup on it.

Older equipment that may have lead should not be used at all.

Galvanized metal tanks or buckets should not be used either, although you can use a plastic liner or bag inside of those older maple sap buckets, which is a cheap way to still be able to utilize the iconic sap buckets.

I know it can be expensive to replace equipment, but food safety is top priority.