Maple Taste and Tour set for this weekend

This year's annual Maple Weekend Taste and Tour, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday brings out maple producers and visitors alike for a weekend of sweet savoring.

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"Visitors can test a big variety of products and also see how modern equipment, like reverse osmosis or monitoring systems, for instance, make a big difference in the end product," said Mike Lynch, who owns Baer Brothers Maple Camp on Appy Acres Road in Somerset, along with his wife, Sherry, and sons, Cody and Reagan.

The Maple Weekend has been Mike Lynch's brainchild from the beginning about nine years ago, when the first tour started out with less than 10 camps. There are 24 different sites on this year's agenda and the tour has grown each year.

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The tour is in association with the Somerset County Maple Producers Association. Lynch got the idea from other regions in the state where the same type of tour is conducted.

There are five maple producing regions in Pennsylvania, including Northwest, Northeast, Endless Mountain, Potter-Tioga and Somerset County, but not all five have a Maple Weekend. Somerset County is the biggest producer of maple syrup in the state.

"It's like a live show," Lynch said. "Some people say 'we want to visit them all' but that is now impossible to do with 24 sites. At our camp, we get a lot of repeat customers who come out for the day and it becomes a tradition. Unlike many products we consume, customers get to see how maple products are processed. Maple has become a very popular product and the maple tour is as close as you can get to being outdoors this time of year."

Not only does the tour highlight the old-fashioned goodness of maple products but it also provides education about the modern-age technology that surrounds the industry.

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At some camps, a CDL monitoring system checks tank levels and does remote starts and controls vacuum pumps all by operating from a smartphone. The system is simply 'smart' and uses a 'wise mesh' technology to allow maple producers to monitor what's going on in the camp and in the woods. Other camps have ROs and evaporators that are now considered state-of-the-art standard equipment. It all saves time and money in the long run.

For more information look up the website, somersetcountymaple.org.

This year's Maple Weekend includes 24 locations. They are:

Somerset Historical CenterThe Somerset Historical Center at 10649 Somerset Pike is the maple history stop for learning about maple sugaring history and lore. There will be demonstrations of maple sugar making, a 1860s camp, exhibits, activities and a museum. Baer Brothers Maple CampBaer Brothers Maple at 245 Appy Acre Rd., Somerset, is based around a traditional woods setting. Owned by Mike and Sherry Lynch and children, Cody and Reagan, the camp has over 5,000 taps with sap boiling on a wood-fired Venturi evaporator. There will be sugar making, spotza, tree tapping and boiling.

Walnutdale Maple FarmsWalnutdale is truly in the "land of milk and maple." The Friedline family have been boiling maple syrup and milking dairy cows for four generations. The sugar woods has 1,200 taps using state-of-the-art tubing but visitors can still tap a tree the traditional way.

Emerick's Maple LLCEmerick's Maple on 180 Ridge Rd., Hyndman, produces award-winning maple syrup with an expansion this season to 9,500 taps in Southeastern Somerset County near Kennells Mill. Matt and Stephanie Emerick and their children invite others to their third-generation maple camp. The horse-drawn wagon rides to the sugar bush will be available weather permitting.

Holler-Hills MapleCome see old traditions come back to life at Holler-Hills at 185 Faidley Rd. in Markleton in the Laurel Hill Creek Watershed. The camp has 2,100 taps and uses a 2x8 evaporator and a H20Innovation RO to reduce boiling time, along with some handmade wooden keelers for tradition's sake. Many visitors enjoy their maple milkshakes.

Listie Volunteer Fire Department at Somerset Alliance ChurchListie Volunteer Fire Department will provide pancakes, old-fashioned sourdough buckwheat pancakes, local sausage, homemade puddin' and local maple syrup from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m to 2 p.m. Sunday at Somerset Alliance Church at 708 Stoystown Rd. in Somerset.

Sechler Sugar Shack, LLCNestled in the hills of Turkeyfoot Valley at 7758 Kingwood Rd. near Confluence, Everett and Christine Sechler and the whole Sechler family have continued the tradition of making the finest maple products since 1850. The old techniques are continually being updated with the most modern technology to produce distinctive flavors of Somerset County maple syrup. Visit with 5th, 6th, 7th and even 8th generation maple producers, while sampling maple treats at the same time.

Milroy FarmsFarm signs guide visitors a short distance from Route 219, one-half mile south of Salisbury, to the maple camp, located down a picturesque farm lane at 1724 River Rd. The 17,000-tap operation, owned by Jason and Melissa Blocher, produces syrup using new technologies and age-old traditions. The camp features guided tours, educational demonstrations, antique maple equipment, candy kitchen, maple samples and Aroma of the Andes Specialty Coffee along with maple peanut butter chocolates, fudge-like maple creams and maple granola.

Robosson's Pure Maple ProductsRobosson's Pure Maple Products is located just off Exit 50 of Interstate 68, three miles East of Rocky Gap Casino and State Park, across the Mason-Dixon Line at 223 Beans Cove Rd., Clearville. The 5-year-old maple camp with 1,500 taps use a RO and wood-fired evaporator offering syrup, candy and cream.

McCormick Family FarmMcCormick Family farm established its sugar camp in 2020 at 293 McCormick Rd., Portage, by starting with 220 taps and they now have 1,000 taps for this season. They use 3/16 inch tubing, a 600-gallon/hour RO and a 3 by 10-foot evaporator.

Hillegas Sugar CampHillegas Sugar Camp, located at 455 Dividing Ridge Rd. near Fairhope, has produced pure maple syrup since 1993. Owner Kyle Hillegas and his wife Rebecca use modern maple technology, including reverse osmosis, vacuum technology and an air-tight wood-fired arch. Located on the White Horse Mountain area, the Hillegas family processes sap from 9,000 taps. This year they added a sore with an assortment of maple products and will serve maple ice cream and sundaes. Whitehorse Brewing will sell beer made with the camp's maple syrup and Smokey Trail BBQ will offer breakfast and lunch using Hillegas maple products.

Lemmon Brothers Farms Sugar CampLemmon Brothers Sugar Camp, located at 242 Lemmon Rd. in Markelton, was established in 2014. Nestled in the Allegheny plateau, the camp now has 4,500 taps on vacuum. Many treats will be available including Somerset County\'s original Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup.

Arnold's Sugar CampArnold's Sugar Camp, established in 1986, is a family-operated sugar camp nestled in the woods of Rockwood, at 3861 Waterlevel Rd. on State Route 3015. They are an award-winning sugar camp that produces and sells only the finest maple products, including syrup, sugar, cream, cakes, cotton candy, maple hickory nut topping and maple vinaigrette. They use modern technologies, such as a 3x6 H&M evaporator, a new Leader RO and filter press.

Sanner Maple ProductsSanner Maple Products, located at 174 Reservoir Rd., Rockwood, is a fourth-generation sugaring operation with about 20,000 taps on vacuum. They have taffy, cotton candy and maple balsamic vinaigrette.

Livengood Brothers Maple ProductsLivengood Brothers (C.J. and Vernon) Maple Camp, 3064 Copper Kettle Highway near New Centerville, has been boiling since 2014. It is a group effort involving friends and family. They have 2,000 taps. They will offer maple kettle corn and maple cookbooks. Coal Country Brewing will be back to feature a maple beer for sampling with Livengood Brothers maple syrup. In addition to offering maple products, the camp will have a cookbook for sale.

Long Lane MapleLong Lane Maple is a small sugar camp located on a fourth generation farm near Kingwood at 308 Long Land Drive, Markelton. The syrup is made from around 1,000 taps using a small RO and a 2x6 oil boiler. The kitchen is one of the highlights of this camp with a large countertop, cabinet and working space.

Brantview Farms Maple CampBrantview Farms Maple Camp, located at 347 Vanyo Rd., outside of Berlin, is a family-run eight-generation maple sugar camp, having its roots as far back as 1832. The camp features an interpretive room where visitors can learn about the history of maple syrup, see antique farming tools and sample maple products and food. Sugar demonstration and wagon rides available weather permitting.

Black Bear Maple CampBlack Bear Maple at 722 White Oak Hollow Rd., Meyersdale, has 10,000 taps using state-of-the-art technology to produce award-winning syrup. They are the producer of the popular bourbon-barrel aged syrup.

Kinsley Maple SyrupKinsley Maple Syrup, located at 4738 Huckleberry Highway, Berlin, will be open on Saturday only for the tour. They have 13,000 taps on pipeline with vacuum in Brothersvalley Township and surrounding area. Their sugar camp has ROs and a large wood-fired evaporator with a separate finishing pan. The Kinsley children help in the woods and at the sugar camp and follow in the footsteps of six generations of syrup makers. Syrup, candy, cream, fudge and maple baked goods will be available.

Duck's Maple FarmDuck's Maple Farm is located at 1700 Red Barn Lane in Normalville (Fayette County) near Seven Springs Resort, off Millertown Road above Indian Head. They began boiling in 2013 and they have about 2,500 tapes on vacuum and boil on a wood-fired evaporator.

Wagner's Sugar CampWagner's is located at 152 Sugar Kamp Lane in West Salisbury and is operated by Jeremy Walters, a former maple king. Wagner has 23,000 taps using state-of-the-art technology and offers syrup and maple products. There is also a unique historical display.

Copper Kettle MapleCopper Kettle Maple is located at 3290 Copper Kettle Highway, Rockwood, on a small dairy and crop farm and has 1,200 taps with a wood-fired evaporator and steam pan. There is a 300-yard walk to the camp and products will be available at the barn.

Hillside Sugar ShackHillside Sugar Shack was established in 2015 at 335 Whipkey Dam Road, Rockwood, in hopes of rekindling a family tradition. Hillside has grown from 250 to 1,400 taps with the support of family and friends. Maple sap is boiled with a handmade 2 by 6 wood-fired evaporator.

Laurel Hill State ParkExplore the history of maple syrup from the days of discovery to modern-day evaporation at Laurel Hill State Park, located at 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset. Taste the park's award-winning syrup and purchase a bottle to take home. Tours are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by registration.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Here's where to go and how to participate in Maple Taste and Tour