Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

Updated: 0 sec ago

Friday Food Insider: Maine maple producers seek to extend the season with new products and traditions

Photo / Alexis Wells Hilltop Boilers is a family owned business located at 159 Elm St. in Newfield.
By Alexis Wells

After a strong 2025 sugaring season that ran from February to April, Maine maple producers, like Hilltop Boilers, are riding the momentum into autumn with high hopes for next month's “Fall in Love with Maple” weekend.

In 2023, the United States produced just over four million gallons of maple syrup. Maine ranked third, contributing 470,000 gallons, according to the most recent data from the National Agriculture Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

The owners of Hilltop, in Newfield, told Mainebiz they are seeing an increase in demand and are meeting it head-on — expanding operations, launching new products and inviting the public to taste the results.

"Many producers, including ourselves, are increasing their taps and improving efficiency every year to keep up with the increasing demand," said Michael Bryant, co-owner of Hilltop Boilers. 

Bryant said Hilltop has added wholesale customers and in the coming spring the plan is to tap 30 acres of maple trees, a significant increase from past years. 

Courtesy / Hilltop Boilers
Hilltop Boilers has everything maple — from dog treats and maple candies to a variety of syrups, grilling spices, pancake mixes and more

The new area will feature miles of tubing lines running throughout the woods and is expected to increase syrup production significantly.

"It has been a three-year project, getting it up and running, which required building a new road, CMP installing power lines and then running all the tubing through the woods," said Bryant. "It is a huge undertaking with considerable initial overhead, but it will ultimately pay off."   

Hilltop has added two new products to its already extensive store, which is packed with everything maple — from dog treats and maple candies to a variety of syrups, grilling spices and more. The new additions include a pancake mix based on Bryant’s grandmother’s recipe and a new glass bottle of maple syrup.

'Fall in Love with Maple' weekend.

Producers are not only expanding their operations but also finding creative ways to connect with the public. What started as a pandemic workaround has now become an annual tradition.

The Maine Maple Fall Fest, also known as the "Fall in Love with Maple" weekend, originated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a means for producers to sell syrup directly to consumers. This initiative was prompted by the cancellation of Maine Maple Sunday that year, which left many producers with excess syrup on hand.

Alan Greene, the president of the Maine Maple Producers Association, said the Maine Maple Fall Fest is a smaller event than Maine Maple Sunday, with 20 to 40 sugarhouses across the state participating, compared to the well over 100 that participate in Maple Sunday.

Still, the fall event provides a significant boost for sugar makers heading into winter as they prepare for maple season.

"It's also a time of year when our state is visited by numerous tourists," Greene said. "Whereas Maine Maple Sunday is mostly for Mainers, the Fall Fest draws in out-of-state visitors and gives them a chance to see how and where pure Maine maple syrup is made."

The Fall Fest will take place from Oct. 11-12. At Hilltop, Bryant expects around 1,500 visitors. He said there will be plenty of maple treats and samples, as well as local vendors. 

Reader Feedback

What food festivals are you visiting this season? The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to hear from you. Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.

Sign up for Enews

Mainebiz web partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF