Maple syrup and maple sugar are among the oldest agricultural commodities produced in the United States. When European explorers first arrived on this continent, they found the Northeastern Native Americans managing maple groves, tapping the trees, gathering the sap, and consuming maple syrup and maple sugar. The newcomers soon learned these skills. Today, maple syrup is produced in fourteen northern states and four Canadian provinces. In the United States, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have the largest maple syrup production.

Maple Syrup Links

• Hobby Maple Syrup Production - Ohio State University
• Homemade Maple Syrup - University of Minnesota
• How to avoid lead contamination in Maple Syrup- Ontario Ministry of Ag, Food and Rural Affairs
• Identifying Maple Trees for Syrup Production - University of Minnesota
• Income Opportunities in Special Forest Products: Syrup (PDF: 80 KB / 12 pages) -USDA
• Maple Syrup Production - Cornell University
• Maple Syrup Production - Penn State University and Cornell University
• Maple Syrup Production Food Safety Guidebook - Ontario Ministry of Ag, Food and Rural Affairs
• Maple Syrup Production in Iowa - Iowa State University
• Maple Syrup Quality Control Manual - University of Maine
• Pennsylvania Maple Syrup and Non-Timber Forest Products - Penn State University

Associations and Other Resources

• Resource Directory for Woodland Owners - University of Minnesota

MDA Contact

Meg Moynihan
Minnesota Farm Opportunities
651-201-6616
Ag Marketing & Development Division