Friday, December 13, 2013

Maine Maple Sunday

Maine Maple Sunday is the perfect day to be driving in the Pine Tree State. At least a dozen sugaring sites are joining in the 30th annual celebration, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 23, 2014. (Check the website closer to the date for a more complete listing.)

Sponsored by the Maine Maple Producers Association, the day includes sugarhouse visits, sugar bush tours and demonstrations on making maple syrup. There'll be plenty of maple treats to sample and buy, including maple cotton candy, maple sausage, ice cream with maple syrup and more.

Here are some of places to visit:
Luce's Saphouse
Rockwall Maple Farm
Smith Brothers Maple
Little Pond Sugarhouse
Strawberry Hill Farms
Wilson Family Maple
Bacon Farm
Old Fort Western
Hill Top Farm
Mike's Maple Sugar House
Sugar Brook Maple Farm
Linwood Acres

Check out a video of a past Maple Sunday:

Monday, February 18, 2013

Maple Syrup Time in New York State

newyork_mapleweekendWandering upstate New York next month, Road Trips Foodies? There are several chances to watch sugaring.

The Farmers' Museum, 5775 State Highway 80 (Lake Road), Cooperstown, New York (map), holds "Sugaring off Sundays" each Sunday in March.

The event March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 features historic and contemporary sugaring demonstrations, children's activities and more. A full pancake breakfast is served from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with other activities scheduled 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Have a taste of “jack wax” — hot maple syrup poured over snow.

Cost for ages 13 and up is $9; ages 7–12, $5, 6 and under are free -- and this includes full breakfast. Reservations are not required.

Two Maple Weekends also are scheduled, in which producers from across the state welcome families to their farms to experience firsthand how real maple syrup and other related products are made.

Maple Weekends will be held March 16 and 17 plus March 23 and 24, 2013, at 123 locations throughout upstate New York (see the map).

(Photo courtesy of Maple Weekends)