In Canaan, April’s Maple Embraces Food, Family and the Forest
March 23, 2022

Vermont’s maple sugaring season is short. But for April Lemay, running a maple business is a year-round, family affair. On 800 acres once owned by her grandparents, she operates April’s Maple, a maple sugar farm and cafe in the small town of Canaan near the Canadian border.

Lemay grew up in Canaan, left home for college, and worked in the corporate world before deciding to return to her hometown. With help from her parents and her husband, Sage, a Christmas tree farmer, Lemay finds success doing something she never imagined. 

“I was anything but a farmer. I always thought I was destined to live in Boston or New York or somewhere a little less remote or rural,” she says. “But the land was calling me back, and I didn’t even realize it.”

Syrup, Sweets, Food and Creemees at April’s Maple

The farm includes more than 13,000 tapped maple trees and 300 miles of tubing for maple syrup production. Open year round, the cafe at April’s Maple serves breakfast and lunch and sells syrup, maple candies, and just about the best maple creemees in Vermont. 

Outside of her family members, Lemay proudly employs all females, whom she affectionately calls “the maple ladies or maple girls.”

“We’re family-owned and women-run. I love coming to work every day and laughing out loud. I love that I get to work with my husband, my parents and stepdaughters,” she says. “I love that I get to work with hardworking individuals.”

Learn more or order online at aprilsmaple.com.

Listen to Happy Vermont: The Story Behind April’s Maple

In this podcast episode, April Lemay talks about sugaring season, life in northern Vermont, and why she calls Canaan home.

You can listen on Podbean. Or you find this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Pandora, Google Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.