The maple leaf is widely recognized as the national symbol of Canada with multiple species of the tree being native to the nation. However, the best known of these plants is the sugar maple that is prevalent across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. This prominence is especially evident in Vermont, where the maple leaf has become an icon that is utilized by individuals and organizations but has also been incorporated into various products for sale to create untold economic and cultural benefits.
Creatively Cultivating an Icon
The prominence and notoriety that the maple leaf has cultivated across Vermont is driven by the quantity and quality of maple syrup that it produces. The state has been able to generate over 50 percent of the maple syrup for all of the United States on an annual basis, highlighting why the maple leaf has become an unofficial icon and symbol that is specifically connected to Vermont. Maple syrup is also tied to the agricultural heritage of the state as well as to the sugarmakers in the present who are working to sustain the productivity of their land.
The impact and scope of the product underscores why the maple leaf has been used by so many individuals and organizations in such distinct and clever ways. Numerous businesses, organizations and even cities incorporate the maple leaf into their identity in one way or another, while the variety of products that feature a maple leaf is incalculable. The fact that the maple leaf is not as prominent of a symbol for Vermont as it is for Canada has allowed it to be developed and realized in ways that are both distinct and creative.
Like other symbols have become icons, the maple leaf has been able to generate a significant economic and cultural impact across the entire state. Both private and public stakeholders have benefited from an unofficial endeavor to see the maple leaf serve as an icon for Vermont. This impact further underscores the opportunity that symbols can unlock when they become icons that are available to everyone.
An Icon for an Entire State
While Vermont has become known for granite and skiing, the maple leaf is a symbol that is connected to the past and present of the state in an especially significant manner. This significance has been realized by individuals and organizations in a variety of ways to open up tremendous opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.
