Maple Producers Association celebrates maple season with tapping ceremony

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — The Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association (UHMPA) celebrated the maple season recently at Hop City Maple with its annual tree tapping ceremony.

Performing the honor at this year’s event was Senior Advisor to state Sen. Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake), Rayan Aguam, with the help of Hop City Maple owner Emilia Medick, UHMPA president David Campbell, and the UHMPA Maple Ambassador Molly Maxwell.

Also in attendance for the event were Natally Batiston, New York Farm Bureau Region 6 Manager, Natalie Lincoln, a staff member for U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam), UHMPA vice president Mike Bennett, UHMPA board member Mike Grottoli, WSWHE BOCES Environmental Conservation & Forestry CTE Instructor Dennis Flynn with three students from the F. Donald Meyers Education Center, and several other local maple producers.

After performing the tapping Aguam presented a citation of recognition to the UHMPA on behalf Tedisco for their work in the maple industry.

“Maple is important to our area,” he said in brief remarks explaining how New York is one of the United States’ top maple-producing states. He also joked that after attending other maple events in the past he has learned to wear the proper shoes to handle the muddy conditions that often accompany maple production.

Other attendees made brief remarks after Aguam.

Medick thanked everyone for coming and said, “Let’s hope we have a good rest of the maple season!” Cambell thanked attendees for coming even though NYS Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets Richard Ball was unable to participate this year. Lincoln mentioned she was pleased to attend on behalf of Tonko who was traveling back to New York from Washington, D.C. on the day of the tapping.

Also, Molly Maxwell expressed appreciation for the event saying, “I am happy to be here to represent the maple industry and have others come celebrate as well.”

Following the ceremony attendees were led on a small tour to parts of Hop City Maple’s sugarbush and treated to maple apple pie from Mourningkill Bake Shop and other baked goods.

Owned and operated by John and Emilia Medick, Hop City Maple is an up-and-coming sugarhouse that has transformed from a backyard hobby into a fully-fledged maple business.

After starting in 2013 with just a few tapped trees and syrup that was boiled over an open pan, the Medicks have steadily grown Hop City Maple which now produces several grades of maple syrup, maple cream, maple candies, and maple sugar. Hop City Maple was recently designated as a NY Grown & Certified producer.

Hop City Maple will be participating in the NYS Maple Weekends in conjunction with Dancing Grains Brewery in Moreau, N.Y.

This year’s NYS Maple Weekends will be March 16-17 and 23-24. To find a producer near you to visit this maple season, check out the Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association website at https://www.upperhudsonmaple.com/