Artisan maple syrup brand enhances environmentally sustainable mission by installing solar panels at manufacturing headquarters
Vermont Business Magazine Runamok Maple, a maker of all-natural, organic maple syrup that is produced from maple trees located along the northwest slopes of Vermont’s Mount Mansfield, partnered with Vermont-based Norwich Solar to convert its 55,000 square foot production facility to operate exclusively on solar energy. The transition stems from the company’s dedication to developing an environmentally sustainable operation.
Runamok Maple began planning the conversion to solar power when it first moved to its Fairfax, Vermont, facility in mid-2018. The new location provided the growing company with more space to expand its business and bring new jobs to the local community. The headquarters currently house the company’s bottling, manufacturing, shipping, and administration departments.
With a wide roof and good southern sun exposure, Runamok Maple, in partnership with Norwich Solar, determined that the facility was ideal for solar panel installation. The project required Runamok Maple to replace and insulate the roof to support the new panels, making it a significant investment. However, the company has earned a substantial reduction in electrical costs, and the newly installed solar panels will generate all of Runamok Maple’s existing and anticipated power needs.
“We went into this business with the philosophy that we were going to make it as environmentally sustainable as possible,” said Laura Sorkin, co-founder of Runamok Maple. “We were already in love with the idea that we could have an agriculturally-based business, where habitat and manufacturing could coexist so well. With the production facility, we wanted to take the same approach and make it eco-friendly wherever we could.”
“While we’re a fairly young brand, Runamok Maple has grown exponentially in the past two years,” said Eric Sorkin, co-founder of Runamok Maple. “However, our sales growth comes with additional energy consumption. It is only a start, but we’re very happy that we have been able to find a renewable source for our electrical needs.”
Prior to installing the solar panels at the production facility, Runamok Maple ensured its products were organic, its woods were bird-friendly, and its property was maintained for the native species to thrive. Now, with solar energy powering its manufacturing processes, the company will continue to scrutinize its business practices to further its mission to be as environmentally sustainable as possible.
To learn more about Runamok Maple, its business, and its products, please visit RunamokMaple.com.
About Runamok Maple:
Runamok Maple, a Vermont-based company owned by husband and wife team Eric and Laura Sorkin, produces pure, organic maple syrup and a unique line of barrel-aged, smoked, and infused maple syrups. With over 1,000 acres of land in northern Vermont, the team at Runamok Maple manages 81,000 taps to bring their pure maple syrup to consumers near and far. Boasting thirteen varieties of pure, barrel-aged, smoked, and infused maple syrup, including flavors like bourbon barrel-aged, pecan-wood smoked, and cinnamon-vanilla, Runamok Maple is available for purchase on runamokmaple.com as well as in select specialty food shops across the U.S. For more information, please visit runamokmaple.com or check out Runamok Maple on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Source: FAIRFAX, Vt. (May 10, 2019) — Runamok Maple