The story of Mahar Maple began one winter night when Jim Durfee mentioned to his son-in-law Ryan Mahar the idea of building a maple sugar house. Both men had long harbored an interest in maple sugaring, and the proposal sparked what would become a cherished family tradition in the beautiful, picturesque mountains of Middletown Springs, Vermont. Since 2002, the Durfee and Mahar families together have taken great pride in producing high quality maple syrup, with their various grades consistently providing a rich, very smooth flavor that is praised by all consumers.
What started as a small hobby grew into something much more addictive and meaningful. In 2012, while boiling sap one Sunday afternoon, Jim and Ryan realized their operation needed to expand, leading to groundbreaking for a new, state-of-the-art sugarhouse. The new facility at the Mahar property on Mountain Road features an attached enclosed wood storage room, separate rooms for sap storage, and an isolated canning room where all the maple syrup is packaged. Significant upgrades include a new finishing stove, filter press, and RO (reverse osmosis) machine that filters out 75% of the water before it goes to the evaporator, creating crystal clear maple syrup beautifully displayed in glass bottles.
The success of Mahar Maple is truly a family affair, with every member playing a vital role in the operation. Ryan oversees general operations and handles most of the boiling, while his son Philip maintains sap lines and provides tours to visitors. His daughter Annabelle helps collect sap and assists with canning, and his wife Ann Marie holds everything together while managing the tedious job of canning syrup. Even Ryan's parents make regular trips to help with washing and labeling jugs and grading syrup. Their commitment to quality has been recognized with First Place Blue Ribbon awards at the Vermont State Fair for both their Grade A Very Dark Strong Taste maple syrup and Pure Maple Sugar, validating years of hard work maintaining their entire sugary in tip top shape.
The story of Mahar Maple began one winter night when Jim Durfee mentioned to his son-in-law Ryan Mahar the idea of building a maple sugar house. Both men had long harbored an interest in maple sugaring, and the proposal sparked what would become a cherished family tradition in the beautiful, picturesque mountains of Middletown Springs, Vermont. Since 2002, the Durfee and Mahar families together have taken great pride in producing high quality maple syrup, with their various grades consistently providing a rich, very smooth flavor that is praised by all consumers.
What started as a small hobby grew into something much more addictive and meaningful. In 2012, while boiling sap one Sunday afternoon, Jim and Ryan realized their operation needed to expand, leading to groundbreaking for a new, state-of-the-art sugarhouse. The new facility at the Mahar property on Mountain Road features an attached enclosed wood storage room, separate rooms for sap storage, and an isolated canning room where all the maple syrup is packaged. Significant upgrades include a new finishing stove, filter press, and RO (reverse osmosis) machine that filters out 75% of the water before it goes to the evaporator, creating crystal clear maple syrup beautifully displayed in glass bottles.
The success of Mahar Maple is truly a family affair, with every member playing a vital role in the operation. Ryan oversees general operations and handles most of the boiling, while his son Philip maintains sap lines and provides tours to visitors. His daughter Annabelle helps collect sap and assists with canning, and his wife Ann Marie holds everything together while managing the tedious job of canning syrup. Even Ryan's parents make regular trips to help with washing and labeling jugs and grading syrup. Their commitment to quality has been recognized with First Place Blue Ribbon awards at the Vermont State Fair for both their Grade A Very Dark Strong Taste maple syrup and Pure Maple Sugar, validating years of hard work maintaining their entire sugary in tip top shape.



