Maple Syrup
Acer saccharum
Sugar maple trees are tapped in late winter/early spring for sap, which is boiled down (approximately 40:1 sap-to-syrup ratio) to produce maple syrup. Thrives in cool, moist climates in Zones 3-8, preferring well-drained upland soils. Modern vacuum tubing systems have significantly improved commercial production efficiency.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- spring or fall – spring or fall
- Harvest
- late Feb to early Apr (tapping season) – late Feb to early Apr (tapping season)
- Frost-free days
- 80+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 24 gallons syrup/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 100 years
- Years to full prod.
- 40
- Labor
- 500 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (3.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable at the regional hardiness zone
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (80 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) may not meet crop minimum (2500)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Some specialized equipment needed but adaptable from existing vineyard infrastructure
Storage Available
Dry/ambient storage sufficient; commonly available on farms
Irrigation Compatible
Low water needs or rain-fed viable
Field Layout Suitable
Requires mature sugar maple woodland, not field cultivation
Labor Availability
Labor needs manageable with existing farm workforce
Processing Proximity
Processing/packing facilities within viable distance in WNY
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($900/acre) below regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($900/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Very long establishment period (7-15+ years to full production)
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($2) is below average
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $37/per gallon syrup |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $900 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $900/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $2,500/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $1 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
High establishment risk; significant investment and years before returns
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Maple Syrup against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie
10 tracked changes across 2 data categories