Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County (CCE Oswego) hosted a free virtual workshop on Wednesday, November 30th 2022 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This educational program was geared towards those interested in beginning a new maple syrup venture, but lack some of the basic knowledge and skillsets for getting started. Some of the topics that were covered included: 1) the basics of taping and sap collection, 2) sap processing, and 3) marketing trends and where to sell your products. 

Guest Speakers were Adam Wild and Aaron Wightman, co-directors of the Cornell Maple Program. Adam Wild is the director of the 350-acre Uihlein Maple Research Forest, which is located in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid, NY. Adam does applied research and helps oversee the 6,000+ maple tap operation at that northern location. Aaron Wightman is a NY State Maple Specialist and helps direct the tap research and maple laboratory at the Arnot Forest, which is located just outside Ithaca in southern NY. Aaron conducts research on all aspects of maple production, marketing, and forest management.

This agricultural workshop was open to all members of the public. For more information, please contact Joshua Vrooman, Agriculture Educator for CCE Oswego Oswego, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315-963-7286 ext. 200.