Our unique syrups are crafted exclusively from the sap of maple, birch, beech and walnut trees to provide the greatest diversity of plant-based syrups in the world. We are a leading supplier of certified organic tree saps and syrups used by food technologists and manufacturers in beverages and packaged goods.
Our vision in starting The Forest Farmers was to protect and utilize our woodlands for the greatest diversity of plants, animals, and sustainably harvested products as possible. Just as a diversity of species leads to a healthier forest and the plants and animals that live there, a diversity of foods leads to healthier and happier people who get to cook with and enjoy the bounty of nature. Harvesting saps from different tree species, ramp leaves, balsam fir tips, and other specialty forest products allows us to conserve the land while leaving it largely intact as a mature, wild forest.
One of our overarching goals is to protect and improve our vital natural resources for current and future generations. Proper forest stewardship is essential to our mission and we believe that sustainable harvesting of tree saps and other wild foods is one of the best ways to ensure long-term viability of our forest resources.
Michael first learned about the wonders of maple syrup during a college field trip while obtaining his master's degree in forestry from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y. He then started tapping trees on his childhood property and soon after went on to serve for 13 years as the Director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Forest, a maple syrup research and education center in Lake Placid, N.Y. Michael focused his efforts on the sustainable development of the maple syrup industry, assisted thousands of sugarmakers with their own operations, and conducted a great deal of research and education on the potential for tapping other species beyond maple, including birch, walnut, beech, sycamore, basswood, and aspen. He published The Sugarmaker’s Companion in 2012 and received his Ph.D. from Cornell soon after while writing his dissertation on the growth potential of the U.S. maple syrup industry. In 2017 Michael gave up his position at Cornell to focus entirely on the development of The Forest Farmers, allowing him to bring all of the knowledge gained to start the largest and most tree sap and syrup company in the world!
Through the H2-A temporary VISA program designed to assist farmers with securing agricultural labor, we are fortunate to bring in 16 Jamaican nationals every year that assist us with all aspects of our forest farming enterprises. They install and maintain hundreds of miles of tubing, tap nearly 200,000 trees each year, maintain our roads and trails, and take care of everything else to ensure the highest quality sap harvests each year. Once the sap harvest is completed, they also spend countless hours carefully harvesting wild ramp leaves, balsam fir tips, and other specialty forest products. We are extremely fortunate that they have traded warm waters of Jamaica for our cold, snowy woods each winter, and we couldn’t do it without them! This is a win-win-win arrangement in which our employees are able to support their families back in Jamaica, we are able to conduct our operations efficiently and effectively, and our customers gain access to some of the highest quality products in the world.
A testament to our steadfast commitment to sustainability, quality, and responsible forest management.
Co-founded by Dr. Michael Farrell, The Forest Farmers emerged from years of research to harness the diverse richness of our native woodlands. We craft unique syrups from maple, birch, walnut, beech, and other rare tree species, offering the world's most diverse plant-based syrups. We are a leading supplier of certified organic tree saps and syrups used by the most innovative food and beverage companies nationwide.
