Maple Syrup

All of the pure maple syrup production in the United States is in the northern states of Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Canada is now the largest producer of maple products in the world, exporting 75 percent of the world’s supply, with more than 90 percent coming from the province of Quebec.

A group of maple trees used to produce maple syrup is called a sugarbush. Maple sap is usually harvested in the spring when the days are starting to get warmer and the trees are just beginning to bud. Below freezing temperatures at night followed by warmer daytime temperatures in the 40’s are required for sap flow.

Traditionally, Indigenous people like the Abenaki have used maple syrup to cure meats, as a sweetener for bitter medicines, and as an anesthetic. Maple sugar also contains nutritious minerals, including phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium. Maple syrup was also used as a trade item in the form of dried, portable sugar slabs. Scan the QR code below to find more information and activities about maple syrup in Indigenous communities.

This webpage includes a variety of educational materials, activities, recipes, and more about maple for use at home, in youth or family programming, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. For more New Hampshire Harvest of the Month resources for March, click here.

Lesson Plan for Beets + Maple Syrup

Developed in partnership with UNH Extension, NH Farm to School, and the UNH Education department, the Harvest Lessons lesson plan and curricular activities can be used by education professionals to incorporate beets and maple syrup into dynamic, long-lasting learning in the classroom and other education-based settings.