PA Preferred® Patterson Farms has come a long way in its four generations of maple syrup production. What began in the 1920s with hand tapping and wooden buckets is now a full scale operation with over 80,000 taps. We spoke with Terry L. Patterson, who owns and operates Patterson Farms with his wife, Terri in Westfield, Tioga County.
Patterson says, “By being in the PA Preferred program, our existing customers and our new customers know that our products are made here at our facility in Pennsylvania.” Beyond a line of pure maple syrup that includes amber rich, dark robust and bourbon barrel varieties, the company also produces byproducts like maple cream, fudge, candy, savory sauces and more.
Learn more about this PA Preferred family farm in our Q&A with Patterson:
PA Eats: What are some of your most popular products? What do people love about them?
Terry L. Patterson: Our most popular items, besides our syrup, are our maple crunchies, maple BBQ sauces and our maple coated popcorn/puffcorn. People like using the crunchies topping, which is unique, the flavor of our bbq recipe in the regular and the hot versions, and our maple coated popcorn as well as our latest creation of maple puffcorn, which is a family recipe.
What are the greatest challenges of your work?
Being a maple producer, by itself, is very challenging. You’re harvesting in the middle of winter when the conditions are always unknown but usually very cold. There is no designated stop or start to our season. It is all controlled by Mother Nature.
What sets your farm apart?
Our farm has been in the family for five generations with the fourth generation working the business. We have some long time, wonderful employees that keep us doing what we do each day. We’re fortunate to do this as a full time business, six days a week and all year round. We enjoy what we do and especially our customers!
What excites you about the future of your farm?
In the maple world, technology is always exciting to see, like what machines or practices will become new in the future.
You can pick up Patterson Farms’ pure maple syrup, maple products and gift sets at its store at 119 Patterson Rd., Westfield; (814) 628-3751 and through its online shops. And, check out its collection of recipes for sweet and savory items like maple spice pumpkin latte and maple meatloaf.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: Terry & Terri Patterson
