The sap has been let loose from winter hibernation by the maple trees in the North Country! Maple syrup production is in full swing now and just in time for the New York State Maple Producers upcoming Maple Weekends. The next two weekends, March 17th and 18th, and 24th and 25th, will see New York State Maple Producers opening their doors to visitors for tours, demonstrations and sampling. What could be better than fresh, hot, right-out-of-the-evaporator maple syrup?

Jamie Rogers - Heaven Hill
Jamie Rogers manning the evaporator at Heaven Hill

Yesterday we were fortunate to have a tour of one of our local maple producers, Heaven Hill Farm, in Lake Placid. Heaven Hill Sugarhouse is one of the educational components of the Uihlein Foundation, operator of the farm located on Bear Cub Lane. It is located in one of the most spectacular spots around, with a view of the High Peaks to the South. It's no wonder it was named Heaven Hill by the Uihlein family. The products produced at Heaven Hill are not commercially available, but they'll be open for the Maple Weekends as long as the sap holds out for boiling.  

Maple evaporator
The evaporator at Heaven Hill Farm sugarhouse

 

 

 

Maple production in New York State is made up of more than 500 entrepreneurs who are proud to be crafting the finest quality products from our large stands of maple tree forests. It takes more than 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. In 2011 New York State produced over 564,000 gallons of syrup! Nothing is added, it is simply boiled down to reduce the sap to the beautiful consistency of pure, unadulterated maple syrup! If you've never had pure maple syrup, you will want to visit one of our local producers for the Maple Weekends.  For more information, click here.

 

Local producers open for tours on Maple Weekend: 

Black Rooster Maple, Rte 9, Keene, NY

Cornell University - Uihlein Forest, Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid, NY

Heaven Hill Sugarhouse - Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid, NY

The Wild Center, Tupper Lake, NY

While not participating in Maple Weekends per se, you're always welcome any day at:

South Meadow Farm, Route 73, Lake Placid, NY