![]() ![]() It’s also cost-effective: A&A doesn’t have the added cost associated with maintaining or running a mechanical system. The process A&A uses to pull sap doesn’t change the flavor of the syrup, but does allow for more sap to be harvested. We’re fortunate enough that we tap a mountain, basically, and the hillside does it for us.” So the gravity pulling the sap generates a vacuum behind it.Ī lot of producers use a mechanical vacuum pump to pull vacuum on their trees. “And what it does, is when you have a big hillside like this, when you have a lot of vertical fall, it generates its own vacuum just by the chemical properties of sap flowing down through the line. “We use a 3/16 line, which is small in its diameter compared to the style of line most producers use,” Doug said. However, the property sits on a hill, allowing for a different circumstance. Others typically use a mechanical vacuum for pulling sap. In one means, A&A is able to set itself apart from many other maple farms. We’d like to make another 250 to 300 gallons of syrup, so we have to put on 300 taps to justify that amount.” “We’re gonna put on another 600 for next year hopefully. ![]() That 1,200 tap figure expanded from 690 last year and the maple farm wants to increase the number of taps for next season as well, Doug said. The farm has just under 1,200 taps on three different properties. The A&A operation is named after the Arcade & Attica Railroad, the tracks for which led through the back of A&A’s property located at 1084 Creek Rd. “So we find ourselves right at home just being in the woods and we all enjoy making it.” A family affair, the Jennings’ father also helps out in the operation in his retirement. … Once we got real jobs, we were like, ‘We can put some money together,’ so this is what we started for the fun of it.”Īside from A&A, Doug works as a wastewater treatment plant operator for the state, while his brother and Jennings work as corrections officers. “And then once we were in high school, we were playing sports and doing 7,000 things, so there was just no time for it. “We made it up at our aunt and uncle’s property in Bennington and we had 400 buckets,” Doug explained. The Beitzes have made maple syrup all of their lives, Doug said, but decided to branch out into a business venture a short while ago. Now in its second production year, A&A Maple was founded by brothers Doug and Jim Beitz, along with friend Dave Jennings. What used to be for leisure has turned into a commercial maple operation for a trio of Attica locals. Beitz’s brother, Jim, adn their friend Dave Jennings, also operate the farm. ![]() Doug Beitz is one of three main operators of A&A Maple, located at 1084 Creek Rd., Attica. ![]()
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