MARATHON, N.Y. -- Maple syrup has become a $30 million a year industry in New York, and perhaps no other town's history is as rich and steeped in maple than Marathon, Cortland County.
"An Abram Brink came up the river, this was land he had received because of his participation in the Revolutionary War," historian and Maple Festival organizer Connie White proudly proclaimed.
"He tapped the trees, made the syrup and took it back to the town of Union, and his grandchildren settled here."
As a celebration, Marathon boasts one of the country's oldest and certainly longest-running Maple Festivals. This year, the Maple Festival celebrated its 45th anniversary.
Last year, New York as a whole produced over 570,000 gallons of maple syrup. That's an impressive feat; especially when you recognize that most maple producers are independent and small operations, relying on few people.
"It is very much a family-based business, especially in New York State," said NYS Maple Producers Association Director Helen Thomas.
Steve Dello is one such example. He has owned and operated S & S Syrup in Marathon for over 30 years.
"We started out small making 10 gallons a year to making 500 gallons a year, so it just keeps adding on," Dello said.
Last estimations point out that there are some 2,000 operations tapping trees throughout the state. Dello says that's a good thing.
"I like to see the younger people get into it now. There's some people in Marathon that just started doing maple last year, and it's nice to see the youngers kids back into it."
It's an industry that shows no signs of slowing down, and a maple syrup tradition that Marathon can call 100 percent pure.