New York maple producers urge ‘buy local’ as trade war raises equipment costs

GEDDES, N.Y. — Maple is as New York State as it gets.

The state ranks second in the country in maple production, just behind Vermont. At the Great New York State Fair, thousands of people are getting a taste of maple.

Still, with the trade war between the United States and Canada, the question for producers is whether “buy local” has a new meaning.

Canadian maple syrup entering the United States is not subject to tariffs. However, the equipment used to make maple syrup is.

The New York State Maple Producers Association said most farmers have not cancelled equipment orders yet since tariffs have pushed costs higher. However, they are concerned that the tariffs could potentially make it harder for farming operations to expand.

“The tariffs may be affecting the supplies that we use, some of our equipment, the stainless steel we use for our evaporators and things like that,” said Maple Educator for the NYS Maple Producer Association Adam Henne. “So, there are some things that farmers are finding more expensive, but not in a way that’s immediately hitting our harvest or product that we bring to market.”

He added, “We’re all pretty concerned about the price of the equipment and things that we need and maple producers watch that closely. But the price of the product that we sell is determined by the market.”

The NYS Maple Producers Association said it hopes to achieve more local sales of maple syrup.

There are more than 2,000 maple sugar makers in New York State. In 2025, the state produced more than 800,000 gallons of maple syrup to keep up with growing demand.