OUR STORY

In 1998, Butternut Maple Farm was established by past Geauga County Maple Festival Grand Champion Pierre Delafranconi on his property on Butternut Road in Burton, Ohio.  Initially, Pierre worked out of his garage, eventually building a small sugar shack which still exists on the premises.

In 2017, with the assistance of family and friends, Pierre designed an 1800 square foot sugarhouse on his land. In 2018, after construction concluded, Butternut Maple Farm moved into its new home. 

The sugarhouse features a state-of-the-art evaporator, two reverse osmosis machines, two custom filter presses – which Pierre built and manufactured – and numerous storage tanks to accommodate our growing operation. The facility is also home to a welcoming retail showroom equipped with space for private and small group tours. 

The sugarhouse has a commercial kitchen which is famous for pancake breakfasts featuring Butternut Maple Farm’s perfected buttermilk pancake mix paired with our renowned maple syrup. 

In addition to the sugarhouse, we have an apartment on site which is listed on Airbnb throughout the year, especially during sugar season allowing guests to have a hands-on experience as they learn about the syrup making process.

Our operation includes 6,500 taps with five sugar bushes (maple tree wood lots). In 2021, Butternut Maple Farm syrup and maple products became certified organic by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).  Our products are sold within the retail, wholesale and bulk sales markets and have been shipped nationally and internationally.

Pierre is not only a master syrup maker, but he is also a student of sugaring, always reading and learning about new techniques in the field through periodicals and online courses. He has been featured in videos, podcasts and newspapers sharing his expertise in the field. Pierre’s personal mission includes educating others on the sustainability of maple syrup as well as teaching children about the maple syrup tradition. He spends a great deal of time working with families and schools to set up their sugar bushes, providing guidance so that they can produce their own maple syrup. 

Butternut Maple Farm also houses a 960 square foot greenhouse, growing vegetables year-round, and a chicken coop featuring “The Butternut 4,” the next generation to supply the farm with eggs.