Maple Weekends Canceled in New York State

Maple Weekend events in New York state have been canceled due to concerns with the coronavirus.

Here is the announcement form the New York State Maple Producers:

"Out of an abundance of caution, the New York State Maple Producers Association has decided to cancel the 2020 NYS Maple Weekend. This 25th anniversary festival was scheduled for March 21-22 and March 28-29 at 187 different locations across New York state. 

"Individual sugarhouses will continue to produce, stock and market their excellent crop of Maple Products. Please contact them directly to order your favorite maple products.  

"NYS Maple Producers Association is already preparing for an alternative series of open houses later in the year to showcase both producer and product. Consult MapleWeekend.com for future events.   

"If you have questions, contact us at mapleweekend@nysmaple.com"

Maple Weekend is an annual event in March in which maple producers throughout the state open their sugarhouses to show the public how they make maple syrup and other maple products. For many, it is their biggest source of revenue for the year.

Remember, as the statement says, the producers still are making syrup and New York residents still can buy all the maple products they need.

Maple Weekends Still On in Most of NYS

New York state maple producers are not letting the presence of the coronavirus in New York state stomp on their biggest event of the year.

As of the afternoon of Thursday, March 12, Maple Weekend events scheduled for March 21-22 and March 28-29 still are set to go. Helen Thomas, executive director of the New York State Maple Producers Association, said she is conferring with her board of directors and changing news could change this decision.

Right now (March 12), "we are not canceling Maple Weekend and are leaving it up to producers" to decide what is right for them, Thomas said. 

She said a few producers in the Hudson Valley -- the epicenter of coronavirus in the state -- have canceled their events. She said some in Westchester County looked at the list of attendees from past years and saw many people from New York City visit Maple Weekends and decided it would be best to keep everyone safe by not holding the event.

New York City also has been an area hard hit by the coronavirus, also known as Covid-19.

Pancakes being cooked at a Maple Weekend pancake breakfast

"We have to be responsible about the producers, considering this (Maple Weekend) is one of the big revenue times of the year," Thomas said.

Thomas said the maple association is following a directive from Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Thursday which requires events with more than 500 people be canceled and any event that is held be restricted to 500 or fewer attendees.

She said Maple Weekend events in New York state rarely have more than 500 people at one time -- a producer might have that many visitors, but it would be spread out over a full day or weekend.

"All of this is changing hourly," Thomas said. "We have to watch it daily."  

Dutch Hill Maple Wins Grand Champion at State Fair for Third Year in a Row

Dutch Hill Maple does it again.

The maple producer from Tully in Onondaga County has won Grand Champion at the New York State Fair for its syrup.

This is the third year in a row Dutch Hill Maple has been Grand Champion.

So thrilled for Cristy and Nate Williams and the whole Dutch Hill Maple crew.

Go to https://www.dutchhillmaple.com/ to learn more about this maple producer.

Schumer Announces $4 million for Maple Development Research

Good news for maple.

Check out https://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/schumer-announces-4-million-for-maple-development-research-grants-20190226

Maple Weekend 2019 Coming Up in March

Can't wait for maple season!!

Onondaga County Maple Producer Wins State Fair Competition

Dutch Hill Maple in Tully, Onondaga County, again was named grand champion in the maple competition at the New York State Fair.

And they have won now for the second year in a row.

Tentative Federal Change in Maple Labeling Worries Producers

Check out this story from the Watertown Daily Times.

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/tentative-fda-label-rule-worries-maple-producers-20180702 to see the story.

Man Killed While Making Maple Syrup

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/man-killed-when-theresa-sugar-shack-collapses-high-winds-causing-damage-across-north-country-20180405 to see the story.

Maple Weekends Coming March 17-18, March 24-25

From state Sen. Patricia Ritchie:

Maple syrup is not just for pancakes anymore.  

There is maple candy, maple popcorn, maple jelly and even maple pepper.  If those — and of course maple syrup — sound like “sweet” treats you might want to try, I highly encourage you to find a nearby sugarhouse taking part in upcoming “Maple Weekend” events.

Held March 17 and 18, and then again March 24 and 25, Maple Weekend is held across the state. There are 177 maple farms across New York state set to open up their sugarhouses to show people just how real maple syrup is made, and of course offer some tasty samples.

Some smaller maple producers still use buckets to collect sap.

Here in New York state, maple is more than just something sweet. It’s an important, growing part of our agriculture economy. 

In fact, New York is second in the nation — just behind Vermont — when it comes to maple syrup production.  With the largest number of tappable trees in the United States, there is great potential for us to become number one. 

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have been working in recent years to support the growth of New York’s maple industry in a number of ways, including by securing money for important research. 

I will also be advocating for a new piece of legislation called “Maple One,” which has the ambitious goal of overtaking Vermont as America’s leading maple producer by issuing permits to allow farmers to tap maple trees on certain state-owned lands.

Maple products at the New York State Fair

The upcoming “Maple Weekend” events are the perfect way for people to not only sample everything maple syrup, but also to help support those who help put it on our tables. I hope you’ll take part in this sweet tradition.

For more information, on “Maple Weekend”, including a list of the participating sugarhouses nearest to you, visit the New York State Maple Producers Association website at www.nysmaple.com.

New York State Grown & Certified Expands to Include Maple

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:

The New York State Grown & Certified program is expanding to include the New York maple industry. 

The program will increase exposure for New York's maple producers, who rank second in the nation (behind Vermont) in syrup production and generate an estimated economic impact of $141 million each year. 

Annual Maple Weekends scheduled for March 17-18 and March 24-25 will help spotlight the growing maple industry and boost awareness of producers in the Grown & Certified program.

 

"Maple production in New York is thriving once again and it continues to be a driving force for this state's agricultural industry," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "Expanding the New York State Grown & Certified program to include maple means we can promote more of New York's finest producers, connect consumers to high-quality products, and support the growth of local communities across the state."

 

To celebrate the addition of maple into the New York State Grown & Certified program and to kick off the upcoming Maple Weekends, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul participated in the first ceremonial tree-tapping of the season at Smith's Maple Farm in Hamburg, Erie County.

 

"As someone who has visited countless maple syrup facilities, I've seen the struggles faced by our farm community, particularly when Mother Nature wreaks havoc with the weather," Hochul said. "Maple syrup production in New York ranks second in the nation. This program will continue to build and support the syrup industry and we're proud to celebrate the producers' success with Maple Weekends in March."

 

Starting next week, maple farms across the state will open their doors to the public to offer tours and pancake breakfasts, sell maple products, and demonstrate the syrup-making process, which includes the traditional system of hanging buckets on trees or more modern methods of production using vacuum systems to increase the yield of sap per tree. 

 

Maple Weekends will take place March 17-18 and March 24-25 at 178 maple farms in 45 Upstate counties. Over 400,000 visitors are expected to participate in Maple Weekends activities. 

A list of Maple Weekend events is available at this link https://mapleweekend.nysmaple.com/

 

New York State Grown & Certified promotes New York's agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards.  

For maple, the syrup must be sourced from New York maple trees and processed in New York State. 

To meet the food safety standards, participants must have successfully completed a maple food safety class, developed in partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Western New York Maple Producers Association, and must follow food safety best practices that are subject to an onsite audit.

 

In addition, a maple producer must participate in an environmental management program that promotes sustainability and keeps forests healthy and productive, such as the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management program, which is administered through the Soil and Conservation Districts, or the Certified Tree Farmer, administered by the American Tree Farm System.

 

A current list of maple producers who have joined the New York State Grown & Certified program includes: 

• Adirondack Natural Products Inc - Croghan, Lewis County
• Brandy Brook Maple Farm - Ellenburg Center, Clinton County
• Brow's Sugarhouse - West Chazy, Clinton County
• Cedar Brook Farm Maple Confections - Malone, Franklin County
• Hamley's Maple - Barton, Tioga County
• Lakeside Maple - Chateaugay, Franklin County
• Maple Hollow Farm - Hannibal, Oswego County
• Mapleland Farms - Salem, Washington County
• Maxon Estate Farms - Attica, Wyoming County
• Silver Hill Maple - Turin, Lewis County
• Smith's Maple Farm - Hamburg, Erie County
• Sweetrees Maple Products - Berkshire, Tioga County
• Wohlschlegels Naples Maple Farm - Naples, Ontario County
• Zimpfer's Maple Products - Attica, Wyoming County

Genesee Valley Research, Promotion Projects Receive State Money

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office:

More than $1 million for seven research, promotion and development projects to strengthen New York state's diverse agricultural industry and spur economic growth across the state was announced June 1 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The money, approved by the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, supports the continuation of malting barley research, enhances the processing capacity at a regional food hub, and assists with renovations to the New York Wine and Culinary Center, among other initiatives.

 

“Agriculture remains a core pillar of New York’s economy, and the greater Genesee Valley region is one of our most vibrant agricultural areas, supporting thousands of farms and agribusinesses,” Cuomo said. 

“These strategic investments in research, facilities, and training are a key part of the Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring blueprints and are essential to the success of the agricultural industry and its future growth,” Cuomo said.
 
The Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority, in cooperation with the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, solicits applications each year to assist in the development of agriculture and agriculture-related businesses in nine counties in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. 

Agriculture supports thousands of jobs in the Genesee Valley, and is one of the key areas of investment in both the Southern Tier Soaring and Finger Lakes Forward regional economic development plans.  
 
The authority has awarded more than $7.5 million to 67 projects in the Genesee Valley through the Agriculture Development Grant Program since 2011.
The Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority Board of Directors has voted to fund the following projects in 2017:

• Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station - $260,000:  to support the continuation of a multi-year research plan focused on malting barley in New York State, which is critical to advancing the state’s craft beverage industry.

• New York Wine & Culinary Center - $250,000:  for the promotion of local food and beverages and facility renovations.

• New York Wine & Grape Foundation - $200,000: to support the NY Drinks NY program, a promotional effort showcasing New York’s wine and grape industries.

• Foodlink - $200,000: to purchase machinery and equipment and make renovations that will enhance value-added processing operations at the regional food hub.

• Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park Corporation (The Technology Farm) - $84,527:  to expand and renovate space at the facility to increase capacity and efficiency of the Technology Farm’s operations.

• Northeastern Juice Cooperative - $50,000:  to develop a business plan, including marketing analysis and food safety certifications, for an apple juice processing facility.

• Western NY Maple Producers - $37,323:  for training and to purchase equipment to test processes for new products.  

 

First Maple Weekend Set for March 18-19

Maple Weekends, New York’s annual celebration of all that is maple, are being held March 18 and 19 and March 25 and 26.
 
On those weekends, many producers throughout the state open up their operations so the public can see how trees are tapped, how sap is collected and how sap is boiled down to make syrup. Some producers even operate pancakes breakfasts featuring their fresh maple syrup.
 
Go to http://www.nysmaple.com/maple-weekend-search/plan-your-maple-weekend/ to find a maple weekend site near you.
 
The production of maple syrup is extremely weather dependent — producers need cold night in the upper 20s and daytime temperatures in the low to mid-40s. 

According to statistics from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, the earliest a maple season began was Jan. 10 in 2011. The latest a season began was April 1 in 1940.
 
Last year, temperatures were a bit crazy, going up and down for a couple of months.
 
At the beginning of February, the weather warmed up just enough for many producers to head out to their trees, tap and start harvesting sap. Temperatures need to be about 40 degrees or a little higher during the day to get the sap flowing and then down below freezing (not too cold, in the upper 20s is best) at night.
 
As producers relished making syrup early in the season, their happiness was short-lived as temperatures plummeted in mid-February — even hitting single digits for highs Feb. 14 and lows way below zero for three straight days (Feb. 13, 14 and 15).
 
Producers got back to harvesting sap and making syrup in March and the season ended on a great note — a record 707,000 gallons of syrup were made.
 
The biggest maple county in the state is Lewis County, which also is home to the state’s Maple Museum.
 
Most recent figures for value of maple syrup production in New York:
2005: $7,037,000
2006: $8,020,000
2007: $7,638,000
2008: $13,907,000
2009: $17,820,000
2010: $12,293,000
2011: $22,052,000
2012: $15,660,000
2013: $25,026,000
2014: $21,676,000
2015: $25,242,000
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

Opportunities Abound in Maple Industry

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine

By LESLIE SHELDON

GOUVERNEUR — There are plenty of opportunities for success in the maple industry.
 
That was the message stressed by Ryan Caldwell, director of sales for Parker’s Real Maple of Canton, St. Lawrence County, during Maple Expo on Jan. 28 at Gouverneur High School.
 
“Everybody can be successful in this business,” Caldwell said. “People want it (maple syrup) and it will not not sell.”
 
The event, in its fifth year, was hosted by the Gouverneur FFA and attracted more than 120 maple farmers ranging from hobbyists to large-scale producers.
 
Workshops were offered by Cornell University maple and forestry experts, maple producers, Farm Credit East and Family Farm Insurance agents.
 
Helen Thomas, executive director of the New York Maple Producers Association, was the keynote speaker. She explained what the organization is doing to promote the maple industry and assist maple producers in growing their businesses.
 
Michael Farrell, director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Forest, a maple syrup research and extension field station in Lake Placid, discussed marketing ideas in one of his workshops.
 
“The more we put into marketing the more we will sell,” Farrell said. “There is a huge opportunity to get people to consume it.”
 
In the United States the annual consumption of maple syrup is only 2 to 4 ounces per capita.
 
Doug Thompson of Gouverneur produces maple syrup from 9,000 tree taps. He also buys sap from neighbors. He sells most of his syrup in bulk and sells maple candy and cream.
 
Thompson chose not to boil sap in mid-January during a warm spell because of the size of his operation. He intended to spend most of February drilling taps.
 
Mike and Sharon McConlogue of Macomb tapped some trees on Jan. 15 during a warm stretch and produced about a gallon and a half of syrup from 40 taps.
 
The McConlogues, originally from Forked River, N.J., are just learning about maple syrup production. Mike says this is just a hobby for them, and he doesn’t intend to tap all of their 350-400 trees at once.
 
Mike said people from their area of New Jersey are aware of real maple syrup but are not familiar with other maple products.
 
Joshua Parker, CEO of Parker’s Real Maple, was scheduled to speak about finding success in the maple industry at a young age. He was unable to attend due to a delayed flight in New York City, and Caldwell filled in on his behalf.
 
Parker was producing maple syrup at age 11 with 100 buckets, 3,000 taps in 2015 or at age 15? started selling maple syrup at age 15. 

Last fall he appeared on the TV show “Shark Tank” to try to get investors interested in his maple butter and cotton candy products. He did not secure an investment but the national exposure did help his business sales.
 
Parker, now 19, has 15-20 people involved in the production of the company’s products.
 
Caldwell, 20, said the company’s success is due to their persistent marketing efforts.
 
They attend food shows across the country to help attract buyers to their products.

More than 120 people attended the program, said Gouverneur FFA President Kennedy Hayden McGill.

Maple Expo was supported by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and St. Lawrence County Maple Producers Association.

“There’s a lot to be said to make sure you put out the highest-quality product,” Farrell said. “If it’s not the highest quality it shouldn’t go in a bottle.”

Maple Weekends Coming in March

Maple Weekends, New York’s annual celebration of all that is maple, are being held March 18 and 19 and March 25 and 26.
 
On those weekends, many producers throughout the state open up their operations so the public can see how trees are tapped, how sap is collected and how sap is boiled down to make syrup. Some producers even operate pancakes breakfasts featuring their fresh maple syrup.
 
Go to http://www.nysmaple.com/maple-weekend-search/plan-your-maple-weekend/ to find a maple weekend site near you.
 
The production of maple syrup is extremely weather dependent — producers need cold night in the upper 20s and daytime temperatures in the low to mid-40s. 

According to statistics from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, the earliest a maple season began was Jan. 10 in 2011. The latest a season began was April 1 in 1940.
 
Last year, temperatures were a bit crazy, going up and down for a couple of months.
 
At the beginning of February, the weather warmed up just enough for many producers to head out to their trees, tap and start harvesting sap. Temperatures need to be about 40 degrees or a little higher during the day to get the sap flowing and then down below freezing (not too cold, in the upper 20s is best) at night.
 
As producers relished making syrup early in the season, their happiness was short-lived as temperatures plummeted in mid-February — even hitting single digits for highs Feb. 14 and lows way below zero for three straight days (Feb. 13, 14 and 15).
 
Producers got back to harvesting sap and making syrup in March and the season ended on a great note — a record 707,000 gallons of syrup were made.
 
The biggest maple county in the state is Lewis County, which also is home to the state’s Maple Museum.
 
Most recent figures for value of maple syrup production in New York:
2005: $7,037,000
2006: $8,020,000
2007: $7,638,000
2008: $13,907,000
2009: $17,820,000
2010: $12,293,000
2011: $22,052,000
2012: $15,660,000
2013: $25,026,000
2014: $21,676,000
2015: $25,242,000
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

New York Maple Syrup Business Triples in Size

Check this out folks.

Go to http://2paragraphs.com/2017/01/parkers-maple-syrup-on-shark-tank-tripled-in-size-overnight/ to see what has happened to a maple syrup producer since he made an appearance on "Shark Tank."

Maple Syrup Time is Coming!!

Can't wait!!

Maple Syrup Can Cut Alzheimer and Sclerosis Risk

Interesting story.

And while it talks of only Canadian maple syrup, our own great New York maple syrup would work just as well.

Go to http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/consuming-pure-maple-syrup-can-cut-alzheimer-s-sclerosis-risk/story-9LslAPS0xfAqaygGaUOA9O.html to check out the story.

North Country Maple Entrepreneur Leaves 'Shark Tank' With No Deal

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/young-entrepreneur-leaves-shark-tank-without-a-deal-20161022 to see the story.

Lieutenant Governor, Ag Commissioner Visit Maple Museum on Thursday

From the Watertown Daily Times:

New York maple syrup at the State Fair

The state’s lieutenant governor and agriculture commissioner plan to visit the American Maple and other local producers on Thursday.

Lt. Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul and Commissioner Richard A. Ball are to be guests of the Lewis County Maple Producers Association at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Main Street museum.

Hochul is slated to present a certificate of recognition to local maple producers Haskell and Jane Yancey, owners of Yancey’s Sugarbush on Long Pond Road in Croghan, according to a release from the maple producers.

Hochul and Ball will then be sampling treats derived from maple recipes, including maple cream, mustard and popcorn.

The pair are also expected to visit Moser’s Maple, 9609 Croghan Reservoir Road, after the museum visit.

Today is National Pancake Day!

My God, I almost missed it.

Today is National Pancake Day.

According to the National Day Calendar: "The table is set, the batter is mixed, the griddle is hot, and the butter and syrup are ready.  This means you are prepared for National Pancake Day. This food holiday is observed each year on Sept. 26."

Be sure to cover those delicious pancakes with New York maple syrup.