WARREN CENTER, P.A. (WENY) -- Maple season has kicked off in Pennsylvania, and the Department of Agriculture paid a visit to Bradford County to tap the first maple tree of the year.

It was an exciting day in Bradford County as members of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, the Maple Syrup Producers Council, and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture kicked off maple season in the Keystone State. The first of many trees was tapped in what is hoping to be a bountiful and productive season.

The Pennsylvania Maple Producers Council and Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council joined Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at Dewy Meadows Farm in Bradford County, to mark the start of the new tapping season. "Ultimately someone has to put that tap in that tree. For the things that we enjoy, putting it on our pancakes, in our drinks, or however you want to consume it, somebody has to do that. It's not just going to appear inside of a container. It's not going to boil itself. It's not going to give us the goodness without somebody taking the time to do that," remarked Agriculture Secretary Redding.

Dewy Meadows farm has been family owned and operated for over a century. Throughout the years they've been able to hone their craft and help make Pennsylvania one of leading states in American maple syrup production.

"The sugar is put into the tree all summer long when the sun shines on the leaves, and once the leaf falls off it will yield its sugar, and once the new bud opens it goes back to production mode and does not give us the sugar at all. we have to do it before the bud opens up. And as the days get longer in March, that's typically when your best runs occur," said farm owner Andrew Dewing when describing the tapping methodology.

Pennsylvania is a prime destination for maple product cultivation, as it is third among all U.S. states in total volume of maple trees. The Keystone State is the nation's fifth largest producer of maple syrup at nearly 200,000 gallons per year, it's part of a $39 billion forest products industry in an agricultural sector that employs over 600,000 people across the commonwealth.