West Virginia maple producers will open their doors to the public on February 21 and March 21 as part of Mountain State Maple Days, an event celebrating the state’s growing maple syrup industry during harvest season, according to a press release from the Tygarts Valley Conservation District.
The event is organized by the West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association and Future Generations University, a private university leading maple research in Appalachia. Registered producers across the state will welcome visitors to their sugar shacks during production season, offering a firsthand look at how maple syrup is made.
Maple harvest in West Virginia runs from early February to late March, driven by daily temperature fluctuations that build up sap pressure in trees.
The state’s maple industry has been growing steadily. A report by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce estimated that in 2024, maple syrup production reached 12,000 gallons and the number of tree taps increased to 70,000 from 69,000 the year prior. West Virginia now has more than 55 commercial producers.
An interactive map of participating sugar shacks and maple distributors is available at wvmspa.org. More information on Mountain State Maple Days can be found on the West Virginia Maple Syrup Producers Association and Future Generations University Facebook pages.
