Recipes for a variety of maple products may be obtained by contacting the local county Extension office or by writing to the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University. Maple syrup and sugar are among the oldest agricultural commodities produced in the United States. Native Americans are generally credited with discovering how to convert maple sap into maple syrup. The importance of maple products for local trade was established well before the arrival of the first European settlers in North America. Maple syrup production is confined to the northeastern portion of the United States, with the largest amounts produced in Vermont and New York.
Maple syrup is one agricultural crop in which there is no surplus.
In fact, demand far exceeds the available supply. The industry is not expanding, even though less than 1 percent of the potential resource is being used.