Massachusetts Sugar Houses and Maple Products
Sugaring!
 From late February through early April, farmers in nearly every hill town village in Massachusetts honor an old New England tradition. They take to the woods with buckets, tubing and drills to gather the sap from sugar maple trees, boiling it down to pure maple syrup. Sugaring is the first sign of the annual agricultural awakening. Local sugar houses welcome visitors to share the joy of the first true "rite of spring," NortheastHarvest invites you to experience this tasty ritual.
 Maple Sugar
Sugarmakers prepare for their annual harvest of the maple trees when the night temps are below freezing and days are mild, making sap flow. Pure maple syrup is made by concentrating the slightly sweet sap of the sugar maple tree, which is "tapped" using buckets, spouts and tubes, then slowly boiled down to a thick syrup. Sap yield depends upon the length of the season, the natural sweetness of the sap, and many complex conditions of nature, such as weather conditions, soil, tree genetics, and tree health. Throughout the 4-6 week sugar season, each tap hole will yield approximately ten gallons of sap, which, after processing, becomes one quart of syrup. If proper taping procedures are followed, tapping will not endanger the health and vitality of the tree.
 After filtering, the syrup is bottled and is ready for sale or ready for a fresh pile of warm pancakes.
More Maple Information:
Massachusetts Maple Producers Association
PO Box 6, Plainfield, MA 01070
Phone: 413-628-3912
From late February through early April, a recording about the boiling season is updated regularly. At other times of the year, you will hear summary reports. You may leave a message at the end of the recording if you need additional information.
Local Sources Maple Products in Northeastern Massachussets
Click here to use the Northeast Harvest Farm Map to search for maple products in your town.
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Boggastowe Farm and B&B
20 Shattuck St., Pepperell, MA 01463
Phone: (978) 433-5191
Brooksby Farm
54 Felton St., Peabody, MA 09160
Phone: 978 531-7456
www.brooksbyfarm.org
Carver Hill Orchards
Box Mill Road, Box 133, Stow, MA 01775
Phone: (978) 897-6117
www.carverhill.com
Clark Farm
163 Hobart Street, Danvers, MA 01923
Phone: (978) 774-0550
www.clarkfarmdanvers.com
Farmer Brown's
210 Maple Street, Middleton, MA 01949
Phone: (978) 774-7110
www.farmerbrownsfarmstand.com
Idylwilde Farm
366 Central St., Acton, MA 01720
Phone: (978) 263-5943
www.idylwildefarm.com
Land's Sake Farm
90 Wellesley St., Weston, MA 02493
Phone: (781) 893-1162
www.landssake.org
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Maple Crest Farm
102 Moulton Street, West Newbury, MA 01985
Phone: (508) 641-5955
Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm
208 South Great Rd, Rt. 117, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: (781) 259-2200
www.massaudubon.org/drumlin
Natick Community Organic Farm
117 Eliot St., Rte. 16, South Natick, MA 01760
Phone: (508) 655-2204
www.natickfarm.org
Russell Orchards
143 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
Phone: (978) 356-5366
www.russellorchards.com
Smolak Farm
315 S. Bradford Street, North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 682-6332
www.smolakfarms.com
Verrill Farm
415 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA 01742
Phone: (978) 369-4494
www.VerrillFarm.com
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