Research &
Development

Oregon Tree Tappers is a public website for recruiting participants and disseminating information pertaining to the following projects. Oregon Tree Tappers is a project of Oregon State University College of Forestry and Forest Ecosystems and Society Dept. in collaboration with community partners throughout Western Oregon. The following research and development studies are funded by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Acer Access and Development Program.

PROJECT 1: 2020-2023: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE BIGLEAF MAPLE SAP INDUSTRY IN OREGON THROUGH LANDOWNER AWARENESS, NETWORKING, MAPPING, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING

This producer and landowner education project focuses on active and potential producers of bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) sap in western Oregon. The project will provide information, training, resources, and networking opportunities to expand awareness of bigleaf maple sap economic opportunities in Oregon and organize and train a landowner network as the foundation for an economically viable and significant food industry.

PROJECT 2: 2023-2026: CONSUMER AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF BIGLEAF MAPLE SAP-BASED FOODS: SENSORY AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITIES, CULINARY USES, AND PRODUCT SAFETY

This market development and promotion project focuses on research to build consumer awareness and confidence for bigleaf sap-based foods through research and education on sensory and nutritional qualities, increasing culinary awareness and use, and best practices for creating food safe products for markets and consumer confidence.

Project Team

• Eric T. Jones (Project Director/Principal Investigator). Asst. Professor of Practice, OSU COF Forest Ecosystems and Society

• Lisa Price (co-P.I.) Professor ethnobiology, OSU Anthropology

• Ann Colonna (co-P.I.) Director, OSU Food Innovation Center Sensory Program

• Joy Waite-Cusic (co-P.I.) Food Safety Lead, OSU Food Science

• Ron Reuter (co-P.I.) Professor of soil science, OSU Forest Ecosystems and Society

• Badege Bishaw (co-P.I.). Director, Agroforestry Working Group. OSU College of Forestry (retired)

• Barb Lachenbruch (Ecophysiology), OSU Forest Ecosystems and Society (emeritus)

• Ryan Brey, Field Associate. Pacific Elemental LLC

• Susan Alexander, (Economist). Neverstill Farms

• Rebecca McClain (Geographer). RJMcLain LLC

• Tom Nygren (Forest Manager). White Oak Natural Resource Service (contractor)

• Eliza Nelson (Teacher, Maple Syrup Practitioner), Oregon Maple Project (contractor)

• Owen Rice (CEO). Mycological Natural Products (contractor)

• Taylor Larson (Agroforester, year 1 Project Field Manager) / My Brothers' Farm (contractor)

Graduate Student Researchers

• Melanie Douville

• John (Trey) Scheb

Advisors

• Will McClatchey (Ethnobiologist/Pharmacologist). Woodland Valley Meadows Farm

• Tiffany Hopkins (Master Woodland Manager Coordinator), OSU Extension Service

• Kent Wheiler, Professor and P.I. for University of Washington Bigleaf Maple Research Program

• Patrick Shults, Extension Forester and Co-P.I. for Washington State University Bigleaf Maple Research Program

• Abby van den Berg, Maple specialist, University of Vermont Proctor Research Center

• Chrisopher Still, (Climate/Landscape Ecology), Oregon State University, Dept. of Forest Ecosystems and Society

• Leon Liegel (Soil Scientist), Oregon State University & USFS PNW Research Station Scientist (retired)

• Tim Brigham, (Sustainable Development), Royal Roads University, BC

• Randy Morris (Cartographer). Mosaic Group LLC

OSU Engineering Capstone Students 2020-2021

• Haris Maqsood

• Kylie Havemann

• Omar Alasari

• Chen Yujun

OSU Engineering Capstone Students 2021-2022

• Aurora Prochot

• Jackson Guettler

• Elizabeth Clark

• Chika Ronny

Volunteers, Land Owner Partners, and Other

The project wishes to thank the many volunteers, landowner partners, agency experts and others that are providing direct assistance to this project.

Project Home, Funder, and Partners