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.
Home Kit for Maple Syrup
Teacher, families, youth programs, and anyone
interested in incorporating maple into activities,
meals, and learning can use this home kit. This kit includes information, cooking tips, recipes, mini-activities,
and more. Also check out an additional parsnip resource below!
Poster for Maple Syrup
Display your love for maple! Download the
New Hampshire Harvest of the Month poster at the
link below. The file is in PDF format and is sized to
print on 11×17 inch paper.
Videos about Maple Syrup
Coming soon!
Books about Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse by Laurie L. Knowlton
Sugaring by Jessie Haas
Gluskabe Changes Maple Syrup
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.
Maple Syrup Recipes for
Home Cooking
Maple Baked Beans
Chicken Drumsticks
with Maple BBQ sauce
Maple Sweet Potatoes
Canadian Maple Pudding
Orange-Maple
Butternut Squash Mash
Maple Carrot and Zucchini Salad
Maple Syrup Recipes for
School + Institutional Food Service
Maple Baked French Toast Squares
Baked French Toast Strips
Shawarma Harvest Bowl
Strawberry Maple Oatmeal
Find Maple Syrup in
New Hampshire
NH Maple Producers Association
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets
and Food’s Farmers’ Markets, including
Winter markets, Farm Stand, and
CSA listings
UNH Extension’s Farm Products map
NOFA-NH’s Organic Farm and Food map