Also certified as environmentally friendly TULLY — Dutch Hill Maple, LLC, which participates in the New York State Grown & Certified program, on March 1 formally opened its new sugarhouse, which was completed in 2023. The program “promotes farms that adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmentally friendly practices,” the New York […]
Also certified as environmentally friendly
TULLY — Dutch Hill Maple, LLC, which participates in the New York State Grown & Certified program, on March 1 formally opened its new sugarhouse, which was completed in 2023. The program “promotes farms that adhere to a higher standard for food safety and environmentally friendly practices,” the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets said in its March 1 announcement.
New York State Grown & Certified verifies New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental-sustainability standards. As part of the kickoff to Maple Month, Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, visited Dutch Hill Maple, a family-owned farm in Tully, for an annual maple-tree tapping.
The event was meant to highlight the Empire State’s maple industry and the maple producers participating in the New York State Grown & Certified program. The event also included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new sugarhouse. Dutch Hill Maple is one of the nearly 150 maple sugarmakers who will host Maple Weekends, helping to boost agri-tourism across New York state. Nate Williams — who grew up with the family tradition of making maple syrup every year with his father and brother — purchased the property that would become Dutch Hill Maple in 2014 with Cristy, his wife and business co-owner.
In 2022, they began construction of a brand-new sugarhouse to better accommodate the needs of their business, the Department of Agriculture and Markets said. In their 2023 season, the Williams’ produced more than 5,000 gallons of maple syrup, their highest production yield to date.
With the 2024 maple season marking the first year of making syrup in their new sugarhouse, the Williams’ hope to further expand production.
“This is an exciting time of year for maple producers across the state, as maple trees seem to come alive with the flow of sap, which is then crafted into deliciously sweet maple syrup,” Cristy and Nate Williams said in the department’s news release. “Maple Weekends offer a wonderful, family-friendly opportunity to get out and meet the hardworking sugar makers behind the jug on your breakfast table, learn how maple syrup is made right in your ‘backyard,’ and most importantly, taste delicious maple products right at the source.” Dutch Hill Maple is located at 1275 Woodmancy Road in the town of Tully, in southern Onondaga County.