Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Declares March “Massachusetts Maple Month”

Buckland — Celebrating the start of a new agricultural season, Governor Maura Healey has declared March as Massachusetts Maple Month. Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle joined state and local officials and representatives from the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association today at Winston’s Sugar House in Buckland to showcase the state’s maple sugar industry and invite residents to visit their local sugar house and purchase locally made products during the maple season.

“Maple month marks the continuation of a proud Massachusetts tradition built on generations of skill and hard work,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our maple producers tap local trees, steward working lands, and turn sap into syrup that supports family farms and drives economic activity across Massachusetts. Choosing local maple means investing in Massachusetts jobs, agriculture and heritage.”

“Maple season supports our rural economy at a critical time of the year. From sugarhouses and farm stands to local shops and restaurants, this industry brings people through the door, supports small businesses and sustains local jobs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our maple producers work year-round to ensure they produce the highest quality maple syrup and its many products that keep residents and visitors coming back for more.”

Massachusetts is one of the top maple-producing states in the country, home to over 300 maple producers who produce more than 60,000 gallons per year. The sector employs over a thousand people, contributing more than $15 million to the local economy. The revenue generated from maple sugaring allows many Massachusetts farms to stay in business year-round by diversifying their offerings, with maple products serving as an additional source of revenue during a time when most crops and agricultural activity are dormant.

“March is an opportunity to recognize maple syrup as one of Massachusetts’ most sustainable agricultural products. Maple production relies on healthy, well-managed forests and long-term stewardship,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “By keeping more than 15,000 acres of working woodland intact and economically viable, our producers protect wildlife habitat and safeguard water resources.”

Since 2018, MDAR has provided assistance to Massachusetts maple producers, awarding over $750,000 in grants to 37 farms through the Department’s Climate Smart Agriculture Program (CSAP). These funds advanced climate-smart innovation in this sector by adopting clean energy and high-efficiency sugaring technologies like solar power arrays, state-of-the-art evaporators, and reverse osmosis equipment. These projects have reduced carbon emissions, cut fossil fuel use, and strengthened the long-term sustainability of the state’s maple industry.

“Like most of our agricultural sectors, maple producers represent a long line of family-owned operations who have been involved in the industry for generations,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Through grant programs like CSAP, we continue to support their longevity and growth through targeted infrastructure investments that will allow them to continue producing delicious maple syrup in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible.”

Today’s visit to Winston’s Sugar House included a tour of their boiling operation, along with a reading of a Governor’s Proclamation and ceremonial tapping of a maple tree to commemorate the official start of the season. Like most sugarhouses in Massachusetts, Winston’s Sugar House is a family-run business owned and operated by Hunter Sessions who started making maple syrup at the age of 14 back in 2014 with the help of his father, Craig Sessions. They now operate 1750 taps with plans to expand next year to supply the region with their high-quality maple products. The sugar house is named in tribute after Hunter’s beloved dog who he grew up with and passed away in 2013.

Maple Month will also be marked by Maple Weekend, happening on Saturday, March 7^th, and Sunday, March 8^th, when sugarhouses around the state will open their doors to visitors for tours of their operations, where they can learn about the maple sugaring process and the rich history behind the sector. Most importantly, visitors will be able to sample and purchase freshly produced maple sugar products and indulge in a pancake breakfast at select locations. Maple sugaring is one of the few agritourism activities available during the early months of the year. Between March and April, over 60,000 visitors spend more than $2 million during the sugaring season. Farms, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, country inns, and other tourist businesses share this income, primarily flowing into small towns and farm communities, supporting the rural economy.

"Maple Month is a perfect example of experiential travel in Massachusetts," said Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) Executive Director Kate Fox. "Visiting a local sugarhouse connects travelers directly with family farms and traditions that are uniquely New England, encouraging visitors to explore beyond a day trip, extend their stays, and create lasting memories while supporting our rural communities."

Additionally, MDAR’s sister agency, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), hosts free maple sugaring programs at parks across the state every year during the season. These family-friendly programs provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about the process of making maple syrup, including identifying maple trees to tap them and gather sap. Locations this year include Breakheart Reservation in Saugus on March 14^th and at Blue Hills Reservation in Canton on March 14^th and 15^th. The program at Blue Hills Reservation, held at Brookwood Farm in Canton, will provide visitors with an interactive opportunity to see how maple syrup is made from start to finish. For more information on DCR’s maple sugaring programs and to attend an upcoming event, visit the DCR website. 

“Maple Month is a great opportunity to connect people with Massachusetts’ natural and cultural heritage,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “Through DCR’s maple sugaring programs, families and visitors can get outside, learn about the science and history behind this beloved New England tradition, and experience how our natural resources support outdoor exploration and local agriculture. We’re proud to help continue a practice that originated with Indigenous communities and is sustained by maple producers today."

"Massachusetts Maple Month is a wonderful showcase and celebration of an important component of our agricultural economy that I look forward to every year,” said State Senator Paul Mark (D - Pittsfield). “We are honored to have this year's kickoff in Buckland and appreciate the recognition from Governor Healey and MDAR of the important role maple syrup and sugarhouses play in our rural economy in Western Massachusetts."

“As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our nation, this is a great opportunity to acknowledge and enjoy the longstanding traditions of maple sugaring that continues today,” said Massachusetts Maple Producers Association Coordinator Melissa Leab. “From the journals of early explorers, we know that Native Americans had a process for making maple sugar as early as 1609. This year we are having an "old fashioned" winter; and maple producers across the state are getting ready and remain dedicated to continuing to produce high quality maple syrup and maple specialty products that can be enjoyed now and throughout the year.”

For centuries, maple syrup has been produced and consumed in North America. Its initial availability during the tail end of the winter season signals the annual start of the agricultural awakening in Massachusetts. It is an optimistic sign that spring is around the corner. Tree tapping in Massachusetts can start as early as late January and continue through April, though March is officially Maple Month. A series of cold nights and warm days is required for the sap of sugar maple trees to flow. Once the maple sap is collected, farmers boil it down in evaporators to produce syrup. It takes more than forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

To learn more about the maple sugaring process and find a list of sugarhouses participating in Maple Weekend, please visit the webpage for the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association (MMPA). For a complete listing of maple sugar houses in the Commonwealth, visit the MassGrown website.

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