Madava Farms, home of Crown Maple Syrup, opens for tours this weekend

Wednesday January 30, 2013 11:00 AM By D.Z. Stone and Monica Zgutowicz

Photo credit: Handout | Crown Maple Syrup at Dutchess County’s Madava Farms in Dover Plains.

Dutchess County’s Madava Farms, home to Crown Maple Syrup, the liquid gold drizzled on President Obama’s butternut squash puree at the Inaugural brunch, will open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends starting Feb. 2.

Owned by former West Point Cadet Robb Turner and his wife, Lydia, Madava Farms is a startup that produced its first syrup in 2011. Now the Turners are working to make the 800-acre property a go-to spot.

“Our goal is to make Madava Farms an iconic, must-see destination in the Hudson Valley for all locals and visitors to the metropolitan New York area,” said Robb Turner. “We want the farm to grow to become a financially sustainable business in its own right. Finally, if we are successful in that vision, it will bring other commerce to the local area.”

Visitors can walk the trails, take a tour of the sugarhouse (the world’s largest at 27,000 square feet) and eat in the Farm Stand Cafe or in the Evaporator Room, next to Crown Maple's oversized evaporator. The tours and tastings are $10 per person; it's free to visit the grounds. 

Madava’s 6.5-acre chef's garden will produce fruits and vegetables that will be available in The Farm Stand Market and on Chef Jacob Griffin’s maple syrup-inspired menu, which changes weekly.

In addition to the weekend tours, Madava will kick off the first of its 2013 special events with Moonlight Maple at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.

“Once spring begins, Madava will hold a wider variety of programming that incorporates the outdoors – birdwatching and guided foraging in the woods,” said Sherri Darocha, the head of programming and events, who also mentioned that farm brunches, nature walks, and wine/cheese events are also on the calendar. “All events are designed to be fun for culinary and nature enthusiasts, couples, groups of friends, extended family and families with active children.”

Madava Farms is at 47 McCourt Rd. in Dover Plains. Find more information at 845-877-0640 or www.crownmaple.com.

Tags: Dover Plains , Hudson Valley , events , things to do