MAINE BEEKEEPING AND MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION ARE TWO INDUSTRIES FACING SCALE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES. WE PROPOSE TO EXPLORE TWO BROAD QUESTIONS IN THIS INTEGRATED PROJECT: HOW CAN WE HELP IDENTIFY "SWEET SPOTS" FOR INDIVIDUAL BEEKEEPERS AND MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE SCALE MANAGEMENT? HOW CAN GEOGRAPHIC "SWEET SPOTS" - WHERE A CONFLUENCE OF PRODUCERS IN SUITABLE BIOPHYSICAL REGIONS WITH INTEREST COLLABORATIVE AGGREGATION - BE CATALYZED? OUR RESEARCH OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BEEKEEPING AND MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCERS BY: (1) EVALUATING BASELINE CONDITIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT STATUS OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BEEKEEPING AND MAPLE SYRUP ENTERPRISES; (2) INVESTIGATING THE ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SCALE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AMONG SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED PRODUCERS USING SURVEY, FOCUS GROUP AND INTERVIEW METHODS; (3) CONSTRUCTING A SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL MAP OF "SWEET SPOTS" FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND/OR DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BEEKEEPING AND MAPLE SYRUP ENTERPRISES. OUR EDUCATION OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND A TRANSFERABLE MODEL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE HONORS COLLEGE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE (SFSRC)FELLOWS PROGRAM. OUR EXTENSION OBJECTIVE IS TO INFORM SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED PRODUCERS' DECISIONS ABOUT THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND POLITICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BEEKEEPING AND MAPLE SYRUP TO MAKE APPROPRIATE SCALE MANAGEMENT CHOICES TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY, VIABILITY, AND COMPETITIVENESS OF OPERATIONS. WE WILL ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH DISSEMINATING OUR RESEARCH FINDINGS, COORDINATING COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS, PROVIDING DIRECT PRODUCER BUSINESS CONSULTATIONS, AND FACILITATING EXTENSION/OUTREACH PROJECTS OF SFSRC FELLOWS TRAINING IN KNOWLEDGE-TO-ACTION APPROACHES.