A Taste of Nature HISTORY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MAPLE SYRUP INDUSTRY
A Taste of Nature 1 HISTORY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MAPLE SYRUP INDUSTRY Native Americans first discovered how to make maple syrup many years ago. They collected the sap in containers made from birch bark. They boiled it by filling a hollowed-out log with sap, then putting hot rocks into it. The Native Americans did not have a way to store the sticky liquid very well, so they boiled the syrup a little longer to make maple sugar. They used maple sugar to sweeten their food and added it to cold water for a sweet summer drink. When the first Europeans came to North America, the Native Americans taught them about making maple syrup. As time passed, the method for making the syrup improved, but the basic process remained the same. The annual tradition of making maple syrup has been a part of Pennsylvania’s history for well over 200 years. THE MAPLE SYRUP TREE The sugar maple tree is the natural resource used to make maple syrup, and maple producers need to take good care of these trees. They wait until sugar maple trees are 10-12 inches in diameter (20-40 years old) before they start tapping them. They also limit the number of taps they put in one tree according to the size of the tree so that it will not be damaged. Tapping maple trees properly does not affect tree health. However, a small amount of wood damage does occur in the tree. The sap collected is only a small fraction of the total amount of sap in the tree. The small hole drilled into the tree usually heals within one or two years. If the maple trees are taken care of properly, the same tree can be tapped year after year. 2 A Taste of Nature PRODUCTION OF MAPLE SYRUP Each year throughout Pennsylvania in early spring, maple producers, also called “sugarmakers,” head to their woods for the start of the maple syrup season. Generally, the maple season lasts from mid-February to early April. Maple producers drill a small hole into the trunk of the tree. This is called tapping. They insert a small spout or spile to catch the sap that begins to collect in the hole. The spout may connect to plastic pipes stretching through the woods, called tubing, or to a bucket to collect the dripping sap. MAKING THE SYRUP Sap from the sugar maple tree is about 98 percent water and two percent sugar, other nutrients and minerals. To make pure maple syrup, the sap needs to be boiled to evaporate a lot of the water away. Maple syrup is 33 percent water and 67 percent sugar. The sap starts to “run” or flow out of the holes when the weather is just right. Sugarmakers like cold nights (with temperatures below freezing) and warm days (with temperatures above freezing) so the sap will flow. Once the sap starts collecting in the buckets or flowing through the tubing, it needs to be processed right away. Sugarmakers use evaporators to make maple syrup. An evaporator consists of two or more large, specially designed pans that are filled with sap. These pans sit over a fire of burning wood or some other fuel, which heats the sap and causes it to boil. As it boils, some of the water in the sap turns to steam, which rises out of the sugarhouse. The sap becomes thicker and sweeter. The sugarmaker has to watch the boiling sap very carefully because it could easily burn in the evaporator. As the sap thickens, it gets hotter. The A Taste of Nature 3 sugarmaker knows the maple syrup is ready when its temperature reaches seven degrees Fahrenheit above the boiling point of water. This process requires a lot of time and energy, because it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of pure maple syrup. The boiling sap is tested with precise instruments to determine if it is maple syrup. When it is thick enough to be maple syrup, it is filtered to take out “sugar sand” which accumulates as sap boils. Sugar sand is just minerals and nutrients that concentrate as the excess water is boiled away. If it is not filtered out, the maple syrup will appear cloudy. THE FINAL PRODUCT After the maple syrup is filtered, it is put in a container for sale, or made into other tasty maple treats. Many maple producers process their maple syrup into maple sugar, maple candy, maple cream and even maple jelly. Pure maple products have no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors. It’s all natural, and some people even call it a “taste of nature” Pure maple syrup is great on pancakes, waffles, or French toast. You can also enjoy it on vanilla ice cream, on steamed rice and vegetables, or other foods. It is a pure, all-natural product from Pennsylvania’s woods. 4 A Taste of Nature contact any of the maple syrup products producers listed by county below for information, retail sales or facility tours. bradford Beckwith Maples RR 1 Box 107 Rome, PA 18837-9726 570-247-7475 www.beckwithmaples. com Bradley-Mann Maple Syrup RR 2 Box 401 Gillett, PA 16925 575-537-6676 Brown’s Syrup Shack RR 2 Box 430 Rome PA 18837 570-247-7094 Cabot Hollow Maple Syrup RR 1 Box 279 Troy, PA 16947 570-293-3754 570-549-2824 Dewy Meadows Maple HC 34 Box 31 Warren Center, PA 18851-9607 570-395-3458 www.dewymeadows. com Ed & Louise Eastman RR 1 Box 271 Rome, PA 18837 Endless Mountains Cabin Maple Syrup RR 3 Box 3154 Rome, PA 18837 570-247-7212 www.endlessmtscabin. com Epler Farms Maple Syrup Bob & Scott Epler RR 1 Box 51 New Albany, PA 18833 570-363-2064 [email protected] Fay’s Maple Products 10640 Berwick Turnpike Columbia Cross Roads, PA 16914 570-596-2816 Greg & Allegra Grenier RR 2 Box 344A Athens, PA 18810 570-358-3520 A Taste of Nature Kirk Manchester RR1 Box 266 Rome, PA 18837 570-744-2956 Marty’s Maple Nichols Road East Smithfield, PA 18817 570-596-3641 Ed O’Connor RR 3 Box 3148 Rome, PA 18837 570-247-2930 [email protected] Roloson Brothers Maple Products PO Box 124 Troy, PA 16947 570-297-2791 570-297-2033 Russell Maple Farms RR 1 Box 123 Rome, PA 18837 570-247-7360 Toll Free 1-888-429-4854 Seldom Seen Farm RR 1 Box 268E Rome, PA 18837 570-744-1791 Richard Tice RR 3 Box 37 Troy, PA 16947 Wrisleyland Maple Products Mark & Rebecca Wrisley RR 2 Box 108 Ulster, PA 18850 570-265-3250 5 crawford Bruce Burchard 15275 Sheets Road Guys Mills, PA 16327 814-789-3130 Dave Carpenter 14533 Sheets Road Guys Mills, PA 16327 814-789-3520 Firth Maple Products 22418 Firth Road Spartansburg, PA 16434 814-654-7265 Richard Getty 23394 Gravel Run Road Seagertown, PA 16433 814-398-4700 Howles Maple Syrup Don & Jason Howles 27828 Patterson Road Guys Mills, PA 16327 814-789-3569 David & Dennis Livingston 7648 Linesville Road Jamestown, PA 16134 724-927-2266 724-927-2255 Pat’s Sugar House 14611 Dickson Street Guys Mills, PA 16327 814-337-2483 Jason Palmer & Trisha Baker 17037 John Brown Road Guys Mills, PA 16327 How Sweet It Is Laura Dingler 19868 Greenleaf Drive Saegertown, PA 16433 6 Lost Acres Maple Haven Patrick Schmidt 22363 S. Beaver Road Conneautville, PA 16406 814-587-2538 William’s Maple Products Dave Williams 17320 Thauret Hill Road Saegertown, PA 16433 erie Terry Bush 10686 Jamestown Road Wattsburg, PA 16442 814-739-2667 Hurry Hill Farm Janet Woods 11380 Fry Road Edinboro, PA 16412 814-734-1358 Burton Kimball 9691 Kimball Road Wattsburg, PA 16442 814-739-2720 A Taste of Nature Northrop Maple Syrup 12337 Route 89 Corry, PA 16407 814-654-7175 Bill Phillips 2789 Dublin Road PO Box 2 Waterford, PA 16441 814-796-6858 814-796-3699 Tripple Creek Farm Gerhard Bilek 9225 Fillinger Road Cranesville, PA 16410 814-756-4500 Greg Walberg 9437 Phillips Road Union City, PA 16438 814-739-9422 Jeffery Yatzor 5860 Koman Road Edinboro, PA 16412 814-734-6633 A Taste of Nature indiana Andy’s Own Pure Maple Syrup 2440 Musser Road Indiana, PA 15702 724-465-5324 mercer Coryea’s Maple Syrup Don Coryea 4268 Ivanhoe Road Sharpsville, PA 16150 724-962-9510 Brian Montgomery 1510 Butler Pike Mercer, PA 16137 724-815-1447 montgomery Ridge Valley Farm Jim & Sue Myers Box 151 Sumneytown, PA 215-234-9334 215-234-9335 potter Brydonson Farm 592 North Ayers Hill Road Coudersport, PA 16915 814-274-9680 [email protected] 7 Sons of Dunn Family Farm 1606 North Ayers Hill Road Coudersport, PA 16915 814-274-7247 papadunn48@hotmail. com Hamilton’s Maple Products 19 Bunnell Road Ulysses, PA 16948 814-848-9853 Charles B. Nelson Sons 214 Grover Hollow Road Genesee, PA 16923 814-848-7950 607-356-3146 cnlnelson@ pennswoods.net Rathbun Farms HCR 1 Box 118 Shinglehouse, PA 16748 814-698-2421 Sappy’s Sugar Shack 2426 Fox Hill Road Ulysses, PA 16948 814-848-9760 www.sappyssugarshack.com somerset Arnold’s Sugar Camp 3861 Water Level Road Rockwood, PA 15557 814-926-3443 bejane@quickconnect. net 8 George Baer 483 Sugar Cake Road Somerset, PA 15501 824-445-8798 Frank S. & James Bocsy 216 Bocsy Drive Stoystown, PA 15563 814-629-5187 Brantview Farm 365 Vanyo Road Berlin, PA 15530 814-267-3273 Ronald D. Brenneman 6702 Mt. Davis Road Meyersdale, PA 15552 814-637-8527 Brenneman’s Maple 527 Oakdale Road Salisbury, PA 15558 814-943-8974 Covered Bridge Sugar Camp 120 Covered Bridge Road Hyndman, PA 15545 814-842-6862 Dover Harbor Farm 321 Niver Junction Road Berlin, PA 15530 814-267-4429 Draksler’s Grove Pure Maple Products 505 Longs Road Homer City, PA 15748 724-479-0268 A Taste of Nature David D. & Frances C. Eckman 458 Zipfel Road Hooversville, PA 15936 814-798-3881 [email protected] Ed Emerick 156 Ridge Road Hyndman, PA 15545 814-324-4536 Fochtman’s Sugar Camp 1002 Wambaugh Hollow Road Berlin, PA 15530 814-267-4302 Forbes Trail Camp 129 Kinsey Farm Road Ligonier, PA 15658 724-238-4387 Lowell Friedline 287 Walnutdale Lane Boswell, PA 15531 814-629-6032 Hemminger’s Sugar Camp 180 Sugar Maple Road Somerset, PA 15501 814-445-5009 Kyle Hillegas 538 Dividing Ridge Road Fairhope, PA 15538 814-267-5687 Aaron Kingsley 4738 Huckleberry Highway Berlin, PA 15530 814-267-5768 A Taste of Nature 9 The Maples 17943 Bittinger Road PO Box 262 Grantsville, MD 21536 301-895-5879 Floyd Reese 322 W. Bakersville-Edie Road Somerset, PA 15501 814-445-7074 Christopher Maust 125 Riverside Drive Meyersdale, PA 15552 814-637-1526 Charlie & Ken Sanner 430 Resevoir Road Rockwood, PA 15557 814-926-2269 814-295-4018 Milroy Farms 9818 Mason Dixon Highway Salisbury, PA 15558 814-662-4125 Oak Lodge Camp 108 Dance Hall Drive Acme, PA 15610 724-593-7811 Piney Run Farm 450 Piney Run Road Salisbury, PA 15558 814-662-2918 [email protected] George Pope 599 Springs Road Springs, PA 15562 814-662-4344 Sechler Sugar Shack Everett Sechler 7758 Kingwood Road Confluence, PA 15424 814-395-3200 sechlersugarshack@ qcol.net www.qcol.net/sechlersugarshack Leo Shinholt PO Box 138 Corriganville, MD 21526 301-724-1433 William A. Shoemaker RD #1 Buffalo Mills, PA 15534 814-623-9785 10 Keith Wable 149 Wable Drive Fort Hill, PA 15540 814-662-2435 Wagner Sugar Camp 285 Tub Mill Run Road Salisbury, PA 15558 814-662-2904 Arnold Weidner 517 Benning Road Berlin, PA 15530 sullivan Harvey Vough RR 4 Box 4185 Dushore, PA 18614 570-924-3354 susquehanna Burman’s Maple Products & Supplies Reed Burman RR 2 Box 112 Thompson, PA 18465 570-756-2914 A Taste of Nature Callender’s Sugar House Spencer & Ardith Callender RR 2 Box 174 Thompson, PA 18465 570-727-2982 Homestead Farm Thom and Tootie Helmacy RR 2 Box 314 Meshoppen, PA 18630 570-833-2138 Loch’s Maple Syrup RR 1 Box 177A Springville, PA 18844 570-965-2679 www.lochsmaple.com Robada Farms Robert & Ada Hess RR 7 Box 7330 Montrose, PA 18801 570-278-3285 tioga Brookfield Maple 1120 North Fork Road Westfield, PA 16950 814-367-5284 [email protected] A Taste of Nature Jody & Jennifer Butler 282 Elkhorn Creek Road Tioga, PA 16946 570-835-4983 Kenneth Heyler 317 Linch Hill Road Morris, PA 16938 570-324-2100 Miller’s Purely Maple 2766 Hills Creek Lake Road Wellsboro, PA 16901 570-724-7907 www.millersmaple.com Lynn Mistifer 60 Urban Road Liberty, PA 16930 570-324-3745 Misty Morning Maple 6 Heise Run Wellsboro, PA 16901 570-724-4764 [email protected] Gilbert Owlett 750 Locey Creek Road Middlebury Center, PA 16935 570-376-5261 Patterson Farms PO Box 216 Gurnee Road Sabinsville, PA 16943 814-628-3751 www.pattersonmaple. com James Sweely 140 Sweely Lane Millerton, PA 16936 570-549-7731 11 James & Dora Tice 427 Tice Road Mainesburg, PA 16932 570-549-5275 [email protected] venango Dennis Farms 765 Russell Road Cooperstown, PA 16317 814-374-4318 Keith Klingler 1729 N. Main Street Ext Titusville, PA 16354 814-589-7175 warren Maple Ridge Farm Loren Kable 1920 Fox Hill Road Russell, PA 16354 814-757-5449 wayne Journey’s End Farm Kristin Curtis 410 Sterling Road Newfoundland, PA 18445 570-689-7552 Maple Hill Farm Roger Bell 1069 Bell Road Lake Ariel, PA 18436 570-698-5287 12 Maplewood Acres Farm Ron & Karen Hayden 1032 Lake Henry Road Lake Ariel, PA 18436 570-698-6906 Morning Sun Farm Bob & Peggy Simons 141 Holgate Road Honesdale, PA 18431 570-224-4607 Nebzydoski’s Maple Farm Tom & Sharon Nebzydoski 8 Maple Ave. Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 570-448-2386 Shemanski Maple Ron Shemanski 35A Belmont Street Waymart, PA 18472 570-488-6095 Yatsonsky’s Farm Market Jim & Julie Yatsonsky 1009 Owego Turnpike Honesdale, PA 18431 570-488-5683 A Taste of Nature Andersen Maple Farm August, Irene, Peter and Patti Andersen 534 Andersen Road Long Eddy, NY 12760 845-887-4238 Justus Asthalter Maple Sean & Dawn Boyes 865 Aden Road Parksville, NY 12768 845-292-8271 Muthig Farm Ray & Dot Muthig 681 Muthig Road Parksville, NY 12768 845-292-7838 Wilcox Farm Harry, Eleanor, and James Wilcox 555 County Road 93 Roscoe, NY 12776 607-498-4302
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