About Us
From the Appalachian Region in Vermont, Highland Sugarworks has prided itself on providing premium maple products with a focus on service and community.
It Started With a Sugarbush
Jim MacIsaac founded Highland Sugarworks in 1986, utilizing his degree from the University of Vermont, his work experience within the food industry and his love of the outdoors. His knowledge in both food science and production set the groundwork for the quality of Highland Sugarworks’ products. His parents bought a Christmas tree farm in Starksboro, Vermont, and Jim leased the land from them to use for his sugarbush. That is where he built his one and only sugarhouse. He made and packed his syrup in the sugarhouse and loaded it into the trunk of his car, making the rounds to the local stores.
In 2017, Highland Sugarworks became part of The Maple Treat Corporation family also located in the Appalachian mountains but in Canada. The Maple Treat Corporation is the largest provider of maple syrup and they are keeping alive the traditions and passion started by Mr. MacIsaac family.
Quality, Service and Community Are At Our Heart
While Highland Sugarworks distribution and product line continue to grow, the fundamental commitments to quality, service and community remain the focal points of the company. Highland Sugarworks purchases pure maple syrup from hundreds of neighbouring farms throughout New England, encouraging and supporting sustainable agriculture. The purchase of Highland Sugarworks maple syrup has a direct, positive impact on the farming community throughout New England.
To the Future
Highland Sugarworks moved into a new, larger location in December 2009. The new 37,600-square-foot facility has been designed to accommodate additional high-speed bottling as well as streamlining all aspects of product handling, warehousing and shipping. Highland Sugarworks’ focus on quality products and its dedicated, well-trained staff, assure the packaging and distribution of some of the finest quality maple products available anywhere.
Our name is synonymous with quality!
With Highland Sugarworks, you get consistent quality and compliance with the best practices in terms of safety and food security. Our company’s bottling plants are HACCP certified, federally inspected, SQF certified, Kosher certified, and Ecocert certified organic. We are subject to numerous audits and assessments by certification bodies where we continue to exceed performance requirements. We are also proud to distribute products that are non-GMO.
Caring for the Environment
At Highland Sugarworks, we know it’s important to protect our environment. We understand the importance of our forests to our farmers and to us. We are constantly striving for new ways to improve our work methods and processes. We also hold several certifications that attest to this commitment. We believe that small, simple acts can help reduce our collective environmental impact.