**MEDIA ADVISORY** State Agriculture Commissioner and Cornell University CALS Dean Cut Ribbon on First New Maple Product Development Lab in the U.S.

WHAT:          State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Benjamin Houlton will celebrate the  opening of the newly rebuilt 4,200-square-foot Arnot Maple Research and Teaching laboratory, which will house the first new maple product development lab in the country.

The project was supported with $500,000 from New York State to facilitate further growth and innovation in New York’s maple industry.  A ribbon cutting will follow a tour of the new facility, which includes a brand new state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and increased capacity for research and development of new maple products. 

WHEN:          2 p.m., Thursday, July 29, 2021

WHERE:        Arnot Maple Research and Teaching laboratory

611 County Rt 13

Van Etten, NY 14889

(please use Google maps, car GPS may not take you to the right location)

  WHY:          The New York maple industry is a critical component of New York’s agricultural     

economy.  New York State ranks second in the nation for maple production, producing 804,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2020. New York is also home to the largest resource of tappable maple trees within the United States and more than 2,000 maple sugar makers. The industry has an annual estimated economic impact of $30 million.

  WHO:           NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball

Cornell University CALS Dean Benjamin Houlton

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo

New York Maple Producers Association Executive Director Helen Thomas and other members