Tour will highlight maple industry

Brydonson Farm will be among those on the upcoming Maple Weekend tours. Maple syrup producers in Potter and Tioga counties will host people interested in seeing how they colllect sap and produce syrup. The collection system at Brydonson, where Donna Ianson (top loading the fire) will be a host, is sure to interest tour-goers.

A dozen area maple syrup producers will open their doors to dozens of interested people March 29-30 for the fourth annual "Maple Weekend" tours.

Goal is to promote the potential of maple syruping in the region and increase public awareness of the industry. Tour participants may be able to witness the production at its peak at six sugarbushes in Potter County and an equal number in Tioga.

Potter County participants include: Brydonson Farms, Ayers Hill Road, Coudersport; Wending Creek Farms, Baker Creek Road, Coudersport; Rathbun Farms, Pinneo Hill Road near Crystal; Charles B. Nelson Sons, Grover Hollow Road, Genesee; Hamilton's Maple Products, Bunnell Road, Ulysses; Sappy's Sugar Shack, Fox Hill Road, Ulysses; and a new sugarbush, Sons of Dunn Family Farm, Ayers Hill Road, Coudersport.

Operators will be eager to field questions about the manufacturing of syrup, maple sugar and several other products.

The Potter/Tioga Maple Producer Assn., formed in 1963, sponsors Maple Weekend. Many of the same syrup producers will also be participating in Coudersport's 42nd annual Maple Festival scheduled for May 3-4.