ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) -- Terrorism concerns are keeping tourists off the factory floor at one of the nation's largest maple production facilities in northeastern Vermont.
For almost a century Maple Grove Farms of St. Johnsbury has produced maple syrup and maple candies. And for much of that time, tourists have been able to watch the production process from the factory floor.
But no longer.
The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus says the factory that processes 12 million pounds of maple products a year isn't prohibited by the post 9/11 security guidelines from giving factory tours.
But Maple Grove General Manager Steve Jones says retrofitting the plant to separate tourists from the production equipment with something such as a glass partition is too expensive.
Maple Grove's museum and gift shop are unaffected.
