Don H. Dean, President
Southern Syrupmakers Association
904 El Dorado Dr.
Dothan, AL 36303

To Whom it may Concern:

This letter is to introduce the Southern Syrupmakers Association. We are an association formed of traditional cane syrupmakers, both sorghum and sugarcane. Our primary goal is the preservation of traditional handmade syrups, historically made in open facilities and in cast iron kettles and/or evaporators. Pure sorghum and sugarcane syrups have traditionally been handmade this way on family farms throughout the South well into the mid-twentieth century - - and still being made this way to this day. In fact, most state departments of agriculture throughout the South exhibit the making of traditional cane syrups at state run fairs and agricultural parks to educate the public about their rural heritage.

It is our hope to preserve, in a small way, this southern farm tradition for future generations. We ask your help in doing this by considering passage of legislation that would exempt traditional syrupmakers from state commercial food permitting processes. Attached is an "Information Paper" which gives oversight of what we think threatens the future of this tradition throughout the South and how it was resolved in the state of Florida.

Sincerely,

Don H. Dean, President