Yankee recently made a FarmStart investment to Robbie Morrill of Milton, Vermont. Robbie is a maple producer operating as R. Sweet Maples. (The t-shirt in the photo shows a maple tree with the caption "I'd tap that".)
Robbie, age 19, began at an early age setting up 900 taps on neighboring land and building a sugarhouse on his parent’s land. He has expanded to 4,000 taps on rented land for the 2012 season. He sells syrup both in bulk and retail. In 2011 he started producing maple coated nuts and maple cream for retail sales that he is selling at farmer's markets and school functions.
Robbie was voted the 2010-2011 Vermont "Maple King" which entails many public speaking appearances at maple events throughout the state – for example at the 2011 Governor’s Tree Tapping Ceremony. Robbie also works full time for CDL USA which is a maple sugaring equipment sales company in St. Albans.
Robbie put his business plan together needing "Seed Capital" to get to his current 4,000 tap level. This is where FarmStart came in. Robbie applied for a FarmStart investment to cover the cost of a new evaporator, expanded tubing system, and start-up costs for the 2012 season.
Loan Officer Thomas St. Pierre in the St. Albans office is Robbie’s FarmStart Advisor.
