Maple Farming is Sweet Business in Valley Region
Published Apr 15, 2007
As the nation’s third-largest maple-producing state, New York is home to more than 1,500 maple farmers. In fact, New York generated more than $7 million in maple product sales in 2004, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Commercial maple producer Maple Hill Farm – owned and operated by Victor Putnam and his wife, Caroline Foote – produces and sells pure maple syrup and other maple products for wholesale and retail sales. This fifth-generation family business in Cobleskill produces its maple syrup the old-fashioned way – with a wood-fired evaporator.
“We’re a diversified modern American farm,” says Foote, who gave up her career as an English teacher to join the business.
Maple Hill Farm also harvests timber, operates a custom construction business and sells retail products at their country store/gift shop. During the maple harvest season (late February-April), Maple Hill Farm offers tours and a maple festival.
“We love what we do. Most people don’t understand maple syrup doesn’t come straight out of the tree. There’s a lot of work involved,” Foote says.
The Parker Family Maple Farm in West Chazy also is a fifth-generation maple and dairy farm that has been in the Parker family since 1889. Earl and Patricia Parker continue the family tradition today producing pure maple syrup, along with dairy and maple products.
“Each tap hole produces about 10 gallons of sap or one quart of syrup, so you have to have a lot of trees,” explains Earl Parker.
The Parkers have 700 acres of maple trees with 18,000 taps.
They also sell their maple and dairy products and gift baskets in their farm market/gift shop, via mail order and on their Web site.
Story by Caryn L. Stumpfl
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