Mitchell A. Skurzewski
Reporter
Anthony and Becky Renken founded Northwoods Maple Farm in 2015 producing pure maple syrup. The Renkens have had a long history involved in the maple syrup industry, but the Renkens are now foraying into a new avenue: CBD products.
They opened a storefront on Merrill’s west side at 308 Grand Ave. on June 22.
While they will be selling staples of their farm like pure maple syrup, Bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, maple butter, maple cream, maple candies and maple sugar at the store, the focus is CBD products.
The Renkens are trying to combat “the stigma” that surrounds CBD, Becky Renken said.
“A lot of people just don’t know the great benefits of CBD, from helping with back pain to arthritis,” she said. “It can be helpful in so many ways and we encourage people to stop out and find out what it’s all about. It’s not just smoking. It’s what your comfortable with and what works for you.”
Becky Renken said things became crystal-clear about the positive uses of CBD products, while on a trip to Oregon. While there, Renken was in significant back pain and she was asked if she wanted to take some cream and use it on her back.
“Within hours I was so much better, not 100 percent, but the difference was nearly immediate,” Becky said.
The downtown location features lotions, soaps, edibles and smokable CBD. Other products available at Northwoods Maple & More include a variety of bath and body products (some contain CBD, and others do not) repurposed and handmade products, Pleasant’s Best sauce and mustard (made in Minocqua) and beef jerky and spice produced by by Mr. DNR in Wausau.
They are even adding a line of CBD products for pets.
“We meet so many people and have so many contacts we just thought this made sense,” Renken said. “I would have never thought we’d have a storefront downtown but here we are. We are big advocates for small business and love to highlight local hand-crafted items.”
“Handmade unique item by people that put their heart and soul into this stuff. We wanted a place to highlight those artisan style goods,” Becky said.
Renken added that if you feel strongly about a product and want it in the store, they will look into making it happen.
Store hours are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information go to the Northwoods Maple & More Facebook page.