About Sugar Oak Farms
Our Story
Sugar Oak Farms is a small father–son maple syrup business located in Malta, NY. We began in 2008 thanks to the book Backyard Sugarin’ by Rink Mann. Our first evaporator was cut from a 55‑gallon drum under a tarp, but we quickly upgraded to a 2’×3’ evaporator and built a small sugarhouse.
That setup worked for a few years, but soon it wasn’t big enough. In 2014 we upgraded the pan to a more efficient version and built a larger sugarhouse. In 2017, we added a small store to the sugarhouse, but having both the store and syrup production in the same space proved difficult.
So in 2018, we built a much larger sugarhouse, purchased a 3’×8’ evaporator, and converted the old sugarhouse fully into a store.
In 2025, we installed a new 2’×6’ evaporator — smaller than our previous unit, but significantly more efficient and better suited to our current production needs.
Looking ahead, we have plans to expand our farm store in 2026 to better serve customers and support our growing product line.
Growing Our Maple Products
Around that time, we began experimenting with maple beyond liquid syrup. We started with maple sugar candies, and nearly a year later we finally perfected maple sugar after many attempts. In 2018 we also began making maple jelly and maple‑coated peanuts — now one of our best‑selling items.
Who We Are
The business is operated jointly by Erich and Paul, each contributing their own expertise. Erich is a graduate of the CIA and a chef by trade, though he now drives a school bus — a schedule that allows time to run the business (and enjoy summers off). His official title is “Sap Commander.”
Paul holds an MBA from Siena College and applies his business background directly to the operation and growth of Sugar Oak Farms.
Our Memberships
We have been proud members of the New York State Maple Producers’ Association since 2010, supporting education, outreach, and the advancement of maple production across the state.
Sugar Oak Farms has also been New York Grown & Certified since 2018, reflecting our commitment to high standards of food safety, environmental stewardship, and local sourcing.
New York Grown & Certified
The New York Grown & Certified program highlights farms and producers who meet rigorous standards for food safety and environmental responsibility. For maple producers, this includes responsible forest management, clean production practices, and traceability from tree to bottle.
Sugar Oak Farms has been New York Grown & Certified since 2018, demonstrating our commitment to transparency, sustainability, and high-quality maple production.
Being part of this program means our customers can trust that our maple syrup and maple products are produced with care, integrity, and respect for the land.
Maple Weekend
We have proudly participated in Maple Weekend since 2014, a yearly statewide open house held over two weekends in March. During the event, you’ll likely find Erich in the sugarhouse explaining the maple sugaring process, while Paul manages the store.
What started as a hobby has grown into a small business that expands every year. Sugar Oak Farms prides itself on maintaining stringent standards of quality and offering the highest‑quality maple syrup possible.