Vermont Maple Syrup Producers Hold 10th Annual Maple Open House Weekend

1/17/2011

Contact: Catherine Stevens
802-899-9926
E-mail: Stevens.Catherine@yahoo.com

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The 10th Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont, March 19-20.  The Open House Weekend is the public celebration of the maple syrup season in Vermont and an opportunity for the public to visit one or more “sugarhouses” throughout the state to learn about Vermont’s first agricultural crop of the year. Activities during this free event will be different at each sugarhouse but will include the opportunity to watch maple syrup being made (weather permitting) and to often sample syrup and other maple products.

As Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy stated, "Sugaring Season is unique to Vermont and is my favorite time of year.  What could be better than to hit the back-roads as families across the state welcome visitors to help boil -- and sample -- our sweetest product."   
Some sugarhouses offer tours of their “sugarbushes” and some have special activities for children. No two sugarhouses are the same so people are encouraged to visit more than one.
Information about all of the participating maple syrup producers including which of the three days they will be open and directions to their sugarhouses can be found on www.vermontmaple.org or in the “2010 Vermont Ski & Year-round Maple Syrup Guide” which can be picked up at any Vermont Welcome Center, or by calling the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing at 800-837-6668.

Vermont is the largest U.S. producer of maple syrup and produced 890,000 gallons of syrup in 2010. Vermont maple syrup, by law, can only contain 100% maple sap boiled into syrup. Maple syrup contains antioxidants, calcium and other beneficial minerals. There are approximately 2000 maple producers in Vermont.

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