Maple Weekends: sweet rite of spring
Taking a close look: Although maple-sugaring is now a high-tech industry, complete with plastic vacuum tubing running through the woods, the old-fashioned maple bucket still intrigues.
Liquid gold: Maple products may be sampled during the Maple Weekend events being held statewide on March 21 and 22 and on March 28 and 29.
New York State’s Maple Weekend is celebrating its 20th year on March 21 to 22, and March 28 to 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. During both weekends, producers from across the state will welcome families to their farms to see firsthand how real maple syrup is made.
The event is sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association, a not-for-profit organization composed of more than 500 entrepreneurs.
Each year, New York ranks as one of the top maple producing states in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Vermont ranks first, producing 1,320,000 gallons last year, more than 40 percent of the nation’s syrup. New York was second at 546,000 gallons with Maine a close third at 545,000; Pennsylvania was a distant fourth at 146,000 gallons.
As spring temperatures begin to rise in late February and early March, maple trees and sugar bushes come alive with activity.
Randy Grippin is the Catskill regional coordinator for the event. His Mountain Winds Farm is at 12 Williamson Road in Berne. More information is available online at mapleweekend.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/mapleweekend.