Marketing Analysis of New State Shaped Maple Candies

Final Report for FNE10-683

Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2010: $7,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2011
Region: Northeast
State: Rhode Island
Project Leader:
Charles Chase
Charlie's Sugarhouse
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Project Information

Summary:

The goal of my project was to design and make Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts shaped maple candy molds using new materials of FDA approved silicone rubber. Then, I was to do an analysis of how well they sold compared to traditional maple leaf candies. With a lot of trial and error, a mold for each state was developed out of food grade silicone and I was able to make a sheet of multi-cavity molds. To make a 15 cavity mold for the state of Connecticut costs about $30 not counting labor. In the future, it may be feasible to have natural rubber molds made into state shapes if the state associations wanted to pool their orders to a manufacturer to lower the cost.

If you sell maple candy already, this will add to the diversity of your products and you will sell more.

Attached below is the full report and a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating the mold process I developed.

Cooperators

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  • Barbara Stetson

Research

Participation Summary
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.