North Country preparing for New York’s Maple Weekend March 21 -22 & 28 -29

LEWIS COUNTY- Producers here in the North Country and statewide are preparing for New York’s Maple Weekend!

During the weekends of March 21 – 22 and March 28 – 29, folks will have the opportunity to visit their nearest maple sugar shack and learn about a New York heritage – making maple syrup.

As winter grows old and temperatures start rising consistently above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, officials say that serves as a signal for trees (specifically maple trees) to start their process of waking up for spring. This also signals the start of sap season. 

“Our techniques for making maple syrup today are both time-tested by tradition and enhanced by modern technology," said Michele E. Ledoux, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County.

"On Maple Weekend, visitors can see all aspects of maple making, from the tapping of the trees to sap collecting to the boiling of the sap into syrup. Some producers will demonstrate the making of maple syrup into other products including maple cream, maple cotton candy and maple sugar. Sampling will be available at most sugarhouses. Maple Weekend provides an easy and enjoyable, free family-oriented opportunity to see how New York maple producers make some of the world's finest syrup and delicious value-added products.”

There is no one simple way to gather and boil sap. In fact, the Cornel Cooperative Extension Office says that techniques can often vary from producer to producer, including modern and traditional.

New York State has consistently been ranked second behind Vermont in the U.S. for yearly maple production.  

Visiting several of the participating sugarhouses offers a look at different kinds of facilities. In addition, many of the producers will have a variety of additional activities including horse and wagon rides and kids’ activities.

For a list of participating maple producers and for more about New York's Maple Weekend, be sure to check out Maple Weekend.com.

New York Maple Weekend image.