Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, May 9, 2008

Montpelier, Vt. -- Over the past several months, the Operation Maple Sweetness Committee has been soliciting donations from sugarmakers and Vermonters throughout the state to be distributed to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The donated maple syrup will be packaged at Butternut Mountain Farm in Morrisville, Vermont Saturday, May 10, 2008 to be shipped oversees. The syrup containers will be stamped with a special label before being distributed to thousands of troops by Memorial Day as a simple gesture of appreciation.

This is the fourth year for Operation Maple Sweetness and donations have been slightly lower this than in previous years. But officials say there’s still time to make a syrup donation or donation of money for the cause.

To encourage last minute syrup or monetary donations, the Agency of Agriculture has teamed up with the Department of Motor Vehicles to accept donations of syrup until 4:30pm today (Friday, May 9, 2008) at DMV offices throughout the state.

Officials are also urging those who want to contribute to visit Butternut Mountain Farm store on Main Street in Johnson--they will accept last minute donations both Friday and Saturday. Monetary donations can be sent to Mary Croft, Treasurer, Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, 491 East Barnard Road, S. Royalton, VT, 05068.

"To aid Vermonters in being able to make donations, our DMV offices will be syrup drop-off centers," said Neale Lunderville, Vermont’s Secretary of Transportation. "Any opportunity to deliver something so uniquely homegrown to our troops who are so far away is something I am sure they appreciate. We’re delighted to help encourage Vermonters to put Operation Maple Sweetness over the top."

“Operation Vermont Maple Sweetness 2008” is a real team effort between Vermont maple producers, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, Vermont Maple Foundation, Vermont Industry Council, Vermont Maple Festival, Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing, and Vermont Agencies of Agriculture and Transportation and the Vermont National Guard,” said Roger Allbee, Secretary of Agriculture. “For some, it might be their first taste of Vermont maple syrup and for others it will be a reminder of home. This is our way of saying thank you and showing our support for our U.S. soldiers.”

On Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Butternut Mountain Farm, Governor Douglas will join the many volunteers from the maple industry, Vermont National Guard and others who have helped to make Operation Maple Sweetness possible, to package the syrup donated for shipment oversees.

The following is a list of DMV offices where donations of syrup can be drop off points:

Newport DMV
100 Main St Ste 130
Newport

Bennington DMV
215 North St
Bennington

Springfield DMV
100 Mineral St Ste 103
Springfield

Burlington DMV
1193 North Ave
Burlington

Rutland DMV
101 State Place
Rutland

Montpelier DMV
120 State St
Montpelier