INNOVATION IN MAPLE MARKETING and EMBRACING AI by Steve and Karen - Meaford Maples

Over the past year, I’ve been experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to see where it might be useful in marketing our maple business. A recent Christmas project became a good example.

I wanted to create a large illuminated maple leaf for our market booth—something attractive during the day, but especially eye-catching after dark. I had the idea, but no real plan for building it.

I started working through the idea with ChatGPT. I uploaded photos of our booth and explained what I was trying to accomplish. We experimented with different leaf shapes, colours, sizes and lighting arrangements. Then came the practical details. It needed to be freestanding, stable, inexpensive, no more than 32 inches high, and ideally use Christmas lights I already had.

It certainly wasn’t a matter of asking AI once and getting the perfect answer. Some designs didn’t work. I explained what was wrong, changed the requirements and tried again. Gradually, the idea evolved into a buildable design with a leaf outline, bulb locations, stand and printable templates.

That experience helped me understand where AI can be particularly useful: it doesn’t have to replace our creativity—it can help us develop an idea.

For maple producers, that could mean social-media posts, signage, product descriptions, recipes, packaging concepts, market displays or advertising ideas. You can even photograph or sketch an idea and ask AI to help develop it.

We still know our maple businesses and customers best. AI is simply another tool for turning our ideas into something we can use.

This article itself was written by AI following my prompts. Total time spent - 10 minutes as I ate my lunch!