Celebrate all-natural sweetness during New York Maple Weekend
“And the best news of all is that the quality of New York state maple syrup is the best in its history, and among the best in the world,” said Michele E. Ledoux, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County. “Our techniques for making maple syrup today are both time-tested by tradition and enhanced by modern technology.”
Members of the public will have opportunities to find out for themselves by visiting local syrup producers during Maple Weekend 2022 activities, which take place Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20 and 26-27.
“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,” Ledoux said. “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 sugar houses.
“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 related products,” she added.
Techniques of maple production vary from producer to producer. Visiting several of the participating sugaring houses 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.
“New York state maple syrup has established its reputation as some of highest quality in the world. New York maple producers continually strive to do a better job of telling people about the process from tree to table, and that is what Maple Weekend is all about,” Ledoux said.
Maple syrup producers across the North Country will hold open houses with syrup making demonstrations and products for sale one or both weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19-20 and 26-27.
This event is FREE to the public. For a list of participating maple producers and directions to their sugarhouses, go online at www.mapleweekend.com.
For more information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County at (315) 376-5270 or visit their website at www.ccelewis.org.
(Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County)