Paul's Maple Products

What began as a hobby when the farm was an operating dairy has evolved over the past twenty-five years into Paul’s Maple Products ­ a beloved cultural attraction for residents and visitors to western Delaware County. In a long-range plan to diversify this dairy farm, the Aitken family invested in the latest technology to continue the Catskill tradition of maple tapping and processing on their farm’s plentiful “sugar bush.” Boiling sap to make maple syrup is a family tradition going back three generations on the Aitken farm.

Each family member plays a part in the syrup business. Paul’s mother, Doris, makes the candy and maple cream; his father, Howard, helps cut wood and gather sap; daughter Beth and wife Margie help with packaging and with customers. The annual open house held during the third weekend of March attracts hundreds of visitors ­ an agritourism venture that brings new customers and educates consumers about where their food comes from.

Paul is always working to improve the farm’s maple products and presentation, from learning to etch glass bottles to developing a new glaze for the maple candies. Their state-of-the-art sugar house doubles as a retail center for the delicious maple syrup and candy they produce. The family also fulfills mail orders and markets through the web-site, which highlights Catskill region farm and forest producers.

This year, the Aitkens expanded their market to New York City, where their products are favorites among members of Brooklyn’s Park Slope Food Co-op. This link has afforded the Aitkens with a steady and reliable customer base to keep orders of their syrup flowing.

The Aitken’s maple business demonstrates the many elements that come together as a farm gains the new skills and infrastructure needed to diversify and remain economically viable. Theirs is an interesting story that looks to create something new from a Catskill tradition ­ the cornerstone being a fresh, local product that upstate and downstate consumers covet. Ref lecting on the farm, Paul says, “I enjoy the outdoors and producing a good product from the land.”