HARDWICK AREA – The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association host Spring Maple Open House Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23. Fradettes Maple Syrup in East Hardwick, Alexander Tree Svc in Cabot and Greensboro’s Long Pond Maple will join over 90 Vermont sugar makers throughout Vermont who open their doors to visitors, Saturday and Sunday, March 22 & 23.
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The Vermont Sugar Makers Association said Vermont continues to lead the nation by a commanding margin as the top maple producing state. In 2024, Vermont’s sugar makers produced 3.1 million gallons according to USDA statistics, which represents just over half of the U.S. production of maple syrup. With warmer temps this month, the 2025 crop will be off to a good start. Sugar makers throughout the state look forward to offering you a taste and sharing their craft!
The Fradette’s log cabin sugarhouse is equipped with full facilities and a wood stove to warm by, Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Woods are available for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing with roads throughout the woods marked with signs. The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail runs directly behind the sugarhouse for easy snow machine access. The woods feature approximately 11,500 taps and syrup is made using reverse osmosis and boiled with oil.
Mary Jane Fradette said, “We hope it’s good sugaring weather; we give demonstrations of boiling and tours of the operation to show how sap is gathered, boiled and bottled.” There’s always something tasty to enjoy because Mary Jane says she bakes something the night before to enjoy with maple syrup. Free sugar on snow will be available to taste and new visitors can learn what it’s like. If it’s a good day to boil, visitors will be able to taste fresh syrup. Walking in the woods is encouraged on well-marked trails named after the Fradette’s grandchildren, but it’s weather dependent.
“We absolutely love sugaring and sharing it with others, whether they are from in or outside Vermont. We enjoy seeing new people and repeat visitors who have become our maple family,” said Fradette. The sugarhouse is at 460 Arsene Ave, East Hardwick, to the right past Claire-a-Den Farm on the right and across from Kingdom Creamery to the left. Call (802) 793-4764 for information.
Visitors to the Alexander Tree Svc sugarhouse can taste syrup boiled with wood, Sunday, March 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with sugar-on-snow, live music, a bonfire, food and free maple syrup samples. Alexander Tree is at 179 Tetreault Road, Cabot, 2.9 miles from Cabot Village and 1.7 miles from Walden Heights. Call (802) 917-1503 for information.
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Long Pond Maple, located on an old Vermont farm at the end of a town road, will be open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering free samples, sugar on snow, sugarhouse tours and self guided woods tours. A full display of woodfired maple products for is for sale, with maple syrup, maple sugar, maple cream, gift boxes, wedding favors and bulk syrup. Long Pond Maple is at 487 Skunk Hollow Road, Greensboro. Call (802) 917-2216 for information.
Learn, taste and explore Vermont’s sweetest season and the first crop of 2025 using the association’s Maple Map at www.VermontMaple.org/MOHW.
Spring is also the time to participate in Vermont’s Maple Ambassador scholarship competition, a program of the Vermont Maple Festival, sponsored by the Franklin County Maple Sugarmakers’ Association and the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association. Ambassadors receive a $2,500 scholarship while they help promote and educate folks in the region about the craft of sugar making, from participation in county fairs to the Big E in Massachusetts. Applications are due by April 9, details and the full application on the Vermont Maple Festival website: bit.ly/2025MapleAmbassador
The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA), founded in 1893, is one of the oldest agricultural organizations in the United States and represents over 1,000 members. The VMSMA helps to promote and protect the branding of pure Vermont maple products and to serve as the official voice for Vermont sugar makers. Members take great pride in maintaining a prosperous maple industry and a working landscape that future generations will enjoy. Vermont sugar makers produce over 2 million gallons of maple syrup annually (over one half of the production in the United States). More information at VermontMaple.org
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
