To kick off Maple Month, Hochul highlights state's thriving industry

New York ranks 2nd in nation in production, with producers sugaring 829K gallons of maple syrup in 2025

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday encouraged New Yorkers to support their local maple producers during Maple Month. She highlighted the state’s upcoming “Maple Weekends” – which will take place March 21-22 and 28-29 – as well as additional events and activities taking place at New York’s welcome centers.

This state continues to rank second in the nation in maple production and, in 2025, the industry produced 829,000 gallons. In addition, New York continues to be home to the largest resource of tappable maple trees within the U.S., and more than 2,000 maple sugar makers. Recognizing the importance of the maple industry to New York’s agricultural economy, the governor’s proposed 2027 executive budget includes continued funding for marketing and research to further grow the maple industry.

“Maple Month officially kicks off on Sunday, providing us all with an opportunity to celebrate New York agriculture’s first crop,” Hochul said. “With over 2,000 maple producers, New York continues to be home to a thriving community that dedicates their time to making the most delicious and innovative maple products in the world. I encourage New Yorkers to participate in Maple Weekends, learn more about the sugaring process, sample some of our world-class items and stop by their local welcome center for special promotions that feature our maple community.”

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said, “Maple season is underway across the state with many of our producers seeing sap flowing already. I’m proud that New York continues to be a top maple producer in the U.S., and that our producers continue to make some of the finest, most innovative maple products in the country that contribute greatly to our economy. I encourage New Yorkers to find a nearby, local producer hosting during Maple Weekends and join in this timeless tradition. This is truly one of the best times of year, as we gather with our communities across the state to support our maple producers.”

New York State Maple Producers Association Executive Director Helen Thomas said, “Maple Weekend is a tradition and celebration we all look forward to, especially after a snowy winter. It's one of the first signs that spring is on its way. For the 160 farms taking part in Maple Weekend, it's an opportunity for them to open their doors and share the skill and passion behind what they do. New York has more family farms making maple syrup than any other state, which means that visitors often get to see several generations working side by side. Every participating farm offers an educational presentation or a demonstration, showing firsthand how maple syrup and maple products are made. For visitors, there's nothing like tasting fresh maple syrup right from the source.”

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “Our members represent a wide variety of agricultural industries across New York, and maple is an important commodity. From the smallest family maple farm to large producers, maple is part of the fabric that makes New York farming special. I encourage everyone to take part in Maple Weekends to taste the amazing variety of syrups, candies and other products. There is something for everyone.”

As part of the kickoff to Maple Month, Ball joined local agricultural representatives and elected officials to visit Parker Family Maple Farm, a family-owned farm in West Chazy, Clinton County, for the state’s annual maple tree tapping. The Parker Family Maple Farm is one of the largest maple establishments in the country, and the largest in New York, producing over 50,000 gallons of maple syrup per year. The farm, which began in 1889, started as a 60-acre dairy farm and maple sugaring operation. Over the years, the farm has been handed down over four generations and, today, it is run by Michael Parker and his wife, Laura, with the help of their young children. It has grown to include over 1,000 acres of land – about 100,000 taps of maple. The business also features a seasonal restaurant, forestry, sawmill and hay crop.

Parker Family Maple Farm is also a part of the New York State Grown & Certified program, which promotes New York farms that adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmentally friendly practices. Nearly 100 maple producers participate in the NYS Grown & Certified program, which verifies New York's agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards.

Find a current list of maple producers who are a part of the NYS Grown & Certified program.

Parker said, “I think that I speak for not just myself, my family and my farm, but our entire community of North Country maple producers, when I say how honored we are to be the host of this year's tapping event. Being located in our far corner of New York state, we pack a big punch in the maple world by being able to boast having the largest maple syrup production in our state, among the highest in the nation. Here, everyone makes syrup or knows someone who does, so it is a big part of the culture. In my family, we have been tapping the same trees and living off the same land for almost 150 years, which gives us strong roots to continue to grow. With the support of Commissioner Ball and the New York State Department of Agriculture, we hope to promote the maple season for all. We hope that visitors will enjoy the magic of maple season at our sugar house and all the others across the North Country this spring!”

Maple Weekends

Throughout the month of March each year – and the last two weekends of the month, in particular – maple farms across the state open their doors to the public to provide a chance to taste pure maple syrup, right from the source, and experience the unique family tradition of making maple syrup in New York. Producers 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.

A searchable list of Maple Weekend events is available at mapleweekend.nysmaple.com.

Maple promotions

New York’s Taste NY Markets across the state will be highlighting unique local maple products and producers during the month of March, with product specials, giveaways and more. Locally, Taste NY at the Western New York Welcome Center will offer weekly maple product sampling, free maple coloring and activity sheets for families, maple basket raffle ($60 value), and an in-store maple fact scavenger hunt. Participants in the scavenger hunt will receive a 10% discount on their market purchase.

Visit your local Taste NY Market to take part in their Maple Month celebrations! Find a market in your region.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County’s Molly Vigrass, a Taste NY market manager, said, “New York maple is a true reflection of our state’s agricultural heritage. During Maple Month, Taste NY at the Western New York Welcome Center is proud to feature local producers like Merle Maple Farm, Sage Family Maple and Belle Hollow Farms, alongside maple vendors from across the state, giving customers a delicious way to support these hardworking New York farmers and food producers.”

Hochul’s fiscal year 2027 executive budget includes funding to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, through its local assistance, to support continued marketing and research for the maple industry. In 2024, Hochul signed three bills at the Great New York State Fair to strengthen New York's agricultural industry, including a new law that allows state land to be leased for sap production.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Markets also supports the maple industry through investments in research projects, such as Cornell University’s maple program’s Arnot Teaching Forest, and through its NYS Grown & Certified and Taste NY marketing programs.