Sugar shacks share their sweets

STOCKHOLM — Gloria Campbell relishes reaching into her refrigerator each morning to grab the tub of maple cream spread.

"I definitely enjoy it on toast," Ms. Campbell said. "The taste is unbelievable."

The Massena resident stocked up Sunday on the homemade maple cream at Rutley's Maple Farms in Sanfordville. She was among dozens visiting the sugar shack as part of the 14th annual New York Maple Weekend festivities, which are intended to help promote maple products.

The Route 11 farm is among several maple operations in Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties that held open houses over the weekend. The maple weekends, with 125 producers statewide participating, will continue this Saturday and Sunday.

Rutley's Maple Farms, the largest maple syrup producer in St. Lawrence County, with about 22,000 trees in Waddington, Potsdam and West Stockholm, taps trees using modern syrup-making operations. The farm has been collecting sap and began boiling last weekend.

"We have had a decent March," said Samuel R. Charleson of Rutley's. "We are probably above average for making maple syrup now."

Rutley's expects to produce from 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of maple syrup this season. Typically, about 42 gallons of sap are needed to produce a gallon of maple syrup.

"We had a great turnout over the weekend," Mr. Charleson said. "We have already made about 2,000 gallons of maple syrup. This week, the weather is looking good for the sap flow."

Donald E. Finen, owner of Fine-n-Dandy in Norwood, said he hopes to make about 70 gallons of maple syrup this season from his trees on the County Route 35 property. He's been making maple syrup for more than 20 years. Several family members help him in the maple syrup production.

"It has always been fun to do," he said. "It's something I enjoy doing."

The maple-scented steam from his production room quickly swept outside each time the door was opened. The panes of glass in the door and windows had steamed up often, making it difficult to see through without wiping the condensation off.

Visitors to most sugar shanties can sample treats, such as maple candy, maple cream and maple cotton candy, and view syrup-making demonstrations. Several pancake breakfasts, in conjunction with the festivities, also have been scheduled.

Locations for maple syrup producers can be found at www.mapleweekend.com.