Great River Maple In Iowa Makes Syrup You Can't Pass Up

Delicious things can be found in unexpected places. Iowa is known for many fine agricultural products – staples like corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. But maple syrup? Not so much. Move over Vermont, there’s a maple syrup producer that’s crafting some of the best syrup on the planet, right here in the Hawkeye State. Great River Maple’s bottles of maple syrup would be at home in the finest kitchens and that’s just the start of what they are turning out in their operation near the banks of the Mississippi River.

Great River Maple is located on a century-old farm near the small town of Garnavillo in northeast Iowa. It's a short drive from Pike's Peak State Park, and the countryside is gorgeous.

The operation began when the farm needed some funds to replace an expensive farm well. The owners eyed up the old maple trees. Big plans were on tap.

As the story goes, after the Civil War, many trees in the area were harvested and floated down the Mississippi. Maple trees don't float well so they were spared. The farm's old trees now produce outstanding syrup.

The farm produces bottles and jugs of fine made-in-Iowa syrup. Sap collection begins in late February or early March and lasts about three weeks.

It takes 43 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup.

Great River Maple offers a sampler of its specialty syrups, including Bourbon, which is aged in maple syrup in Iowa bourbon barrels from Mississippi River Distillery.

The farm's maple syrup and maple cream are both certified organic. The farm also produces maple sugar, maple cream and maple cotton candy!

Great River Maple has a forest of more than 7,000 beautiful maple trees that support this craft operation. The business offers farm tours, which can be scheduled via the website. Interested in more Iowa farm discoveries? Here’s the best farm bakery.

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217 Clay Brick Ln, Garnavillo, IA 52049, USA

Great River Maple In Iowa Makes Syrup You Can't Pass Up

Ben Jones

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