Maple syrup relies on migrants
Vermont’s maple syrup industry now depends heavily on migrant workers from Mexico and Jamaica — producers say these labor flows are increasingly central to keeping the state supplying over half the U.S. market. (x.com)
Vermont produced 3,108,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2024, equal to 53 percent of the national crop of 5,860,000 gallons. (uvm.edu)) This season eight Vermont maple producers filed H‑2A petitions requesting 46 seasonal foreign workers, according to Vermont Department of Labor figures cited in local reporting. (sevendaysvt.com)) Reporters and broadcasters covering the industry identified Mexico and Jamaica as common countries of origin for those seasonal hires, while other producers relied on out‑of‑state labor contractors to fill shifts. (sevendaysvt.com)) Local coverage notes there is no definitive statewide count of migrant maple workers, leaving the true scale of the seasonal labor flow into sugaring operations uncertain. (nationaltoday.com)) H‑2A processing and consular appointment delays have been reported nationally this spring, a bottleneck that industry sources say could imperil the narrow early‑April tapping window if visas and travel aren’t completed on time. (thepacker.com)) Producers have more than doubled Vermont’s output over the last decade by scaling taps and processing capacity, a growth pattern that has intensified demand for short, skilled seasonal labor during the two‑to‑six‑week sugaring season. (sevendaysvt.com))
