In 2015, the Ohio Legislature passed legislation designating March as Maple Month in Ohio and what better way to celebrate than with a visit to one of Ohio’s sugar-houses during the 2017 Maple Madness® Driving Trail. Sponsored by the Ohio Maple Producers Association, the trail features sugar-houses across the state ranging in size from small backyard operations to large scale operations featuring the latest technology in maple production.
This year the tour dates are March 3-4 and March 10-11. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Ohio has a rich heritage in maple production, dating back to Native Americans who roamed the territory, and when the early settlers moved westward into the state, they began using buckets to collect that sap and kettles to boil it down to syrup.
Today, Ohio ranks among the top ten states in the United States in Maple production with sales totaling $4.74 million dollars in 2015 (the most recent statistics available) About 44 percent of the state’s maple production is sold in the retail market either as syrup or as value added products. The balance is sold either wholesale or in bulk form to other processors.
For a complete list of stops on this year’s tour, go to Ohio Maple Producers Association. Participating on the tour in your area are:
- Richards Maple Products Jen Freeman 440-286-4160
- Geauga Maple Festival Sugar House 440-487-1660
