The contribution of Jesse Randall in the transformation of the american Midwest maple syrup tradition
The United States Midwest, traversing the Dakotas to Ohio, has a rich history in the maple industry that spans generations. The Midwest accounts for about 2,524,212 taps and has around 3,722 maple producers.
In 2022, twenty-seven states responded to the Census of Agriculture, with Wisconsin ranking number four and Michigan ranking number six in total taps. Midwest maple gained an asset in research, education, and innovation when Jesse Randall was named the director of Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch’s Forest Biomass Innovation Center.
Jesse Randall, a native of Western New York, is a multi-generational sugarmaker who grew up learning the science of maple. As a young adult he conducted several research projects at the family sugarbush. He attended Cornell University and, as a freshman, helped to reestablish the sweet tree program and planted several plantations of sweet maples from cuttings. After graduating from Cornell with a degree in Natural Resources, Randall attended Michigan State University and received his Ph.D. in forestry. Randall then took a position at Iowa State as an Associate Professor in the forestry department and continued his research. In 2016, his team secured an ACER grant for the Midwest, providing substantial funding for maple research.
In 2018, Jesse took his current position at MSU, where his vision was to think outside the box and create innovative partnerships in the research community. In the early years, Jesse and his team produced syrup from 300 taps on mostly homemade equipment. Jesse has a spark when you talk with him about anything maple related; he has a way of communicating at any level to make you understand what most could not. Jesse’s favorite part of maple is talking with producers about current research and issues they may have. He loves taking the problems presented by producers and developing new research programs based on real feedback.
Innovation and sugar maker education were a top priority at MSU in 2019. They launched a web-based version of the Maple Manual in a series of videos that can be updated in real-time, no more waiting years for the next edition to print. You can find this all-things maple how-to manual at:
www.canr.msu.edu/fbic/maple-manual-video-series/
In 2023, (MSU) AgBioResearch’s Forest Biomass Innovation Center completed the construction of a new 4500 square feet Maple Research facility. This facility features a 3 ½’ X 14’ CDL Maple Deluxe Evaporator. You can follow Yooper Forestry on Facebook to see all thing maple during the season; they are often live.
Randall currently has six active research projects, one of which focuses on sanitation and sugarbush sensor technology. The research measures microbial growth from the taphole to the tank. One of Jesse’s focuses is improving the span of maple and how we can use off flavored syrup to produce a variety of goods. Jesse understands the importance research will be to the next generation of sugarmakers, having three daughters to carry on the Randall sugarmaking tradition.
I’m excited to see where his research will take maple in the future, if you ever find yourself in the Midwest stop by Escanaba, Michigan and take the opportunity to see the research and innovation center.
