Member Spotlight: Rock Maple Mountain

Our VSFA Member Spotlight features a member each month highlighting their business, products and experience in the industry. For this spotlight we asked Rock Maple Mountain a series of questions.

Answers provided by: Barb Salg, Marketing and Sales Director, Rock Maple Mountain LLC

Q. Tell us a little bit about your company’s background and what you produce.
A. We are a family owned and operated maple sugaring business, with approximately 20,000 taps. We have been producing maple syrup, maple sugar and maple cream at our family sugarhouse nestled in the Cold Hollow Mountains of Bakersfield for over 15 years. We sell our syrup in bulk, and also bottle and sell our maple syrup in beautiful glass bottles.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about owning your own business?
A. I enjoy the freedom of being able to grow and develop my business as I want to. I also enjoy networking and collaborating with other business owners.

Q. What is your proudest accomplishment as a business owner?
A. We were featured on a cooking show hosted by a famous chef from the United Kingdom, named Tom Kerridge. It was a fantastic experience to be able to share our passion for maple sugaring with Tom and his film crew, and it was fascinating to learn how “behind the scenes” filming works.

Q. How has COVID-19 changed your approach to business?
A. We do not have a brick and mortar store, and most of our product sales are on-line, so COVID-19 has not had a huge impact on our business. If anything, we have seen an increase in social media interaction and website visits.

Q. Why did you choose to become a member of the VSFA? How have you benefited from being a VSFA member?
A. I wanted the ability to meet and interact with other small business owners in the food industry in Vermont, and VSFA was the perfect fit! The networking and support that is available through VSFA has been a great benefit, and I have also benefitted from attending the Spring and Fall meetings in person (pre-COVID).

Q. What do you most enjoy doing in your spare time? Do you have a hobby/favorite pastime?
A. In my spare time I enjoy working out at the gym, reading, spending time with friends, and playing with my cats.

Q. Any additional information or news you would like to share?
A. We also own Sterling Ridge Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont which is a log cabin resort. We have developed a Maple Experience which we offer to our guests during sugaring season in the spring, where we take them to our sugarhouse and teach them all about maple sugaring, from tapping the trees to bottling the syrup. It is a wonderful way for us to share our passion for maple sugaring with others, and teach them about the nutritional benefits of maple products.

Learn more about Rock Maple Mountain's products and history by visiting their website: rockmaplemountain.com