Rooted in family history, crafted in the Catskill Mountains, and made with a little help from the community, Tree Juice Maple Syrup brings a taste of local tradition to every bottle.
There’s something special about discovering the local businesses that make a place feel like home. In the Catskills, where rolling hills, winding country roads, and generations of family traditions shape the region’s character, some of the best discoveries come in the sweetest forms.
Meet Tree Juice Maple Syrup™, a Catskills-based maple syrup producer bringing traditional craftsmanship and a fresh perspective to one of nature’s sweetest ingredients. Made at Lazy Crazy Acres Farm in the Drybrook Valley, Tree Juice is more than just maple syrup. It’s a story of family heritage, sustainable agricultural traditions, and a community that helps keep local farming alive.
And if you’re staying with Casskell Stays, you might already have a little taste of their story waiting for you.
A Family Farm with Deep Catskills Roots
The story of Tree Juice Maple Syrup begins at Lazy Crazy Acres Farm, a 100-plus-acre property nestled in the Drybrook Valley of New York’s Catskill Mountains. The Fairbairn family has owned and operated the farm since the 1930s, making it a longstanding part of the region’s agricultural landscape.
In 2012, Jake Fairbairn, Ryan Annetts, and Rae Brundage brought a piece of that history back to life. After the farm’s sugar shack had sat unused for eight years, the trio revived the operation and began producing Tree Juice Maple Syrup™.
What started with the revival of a family tradition has grown into a maple syrup operation that combines the character of a historic farm with a passion for producing something truly local.
From Maple Trees to the Sweet Stuff
Every bottle of Tree Juice Maple Syrup begins with the landscape surrounding the farm.
Each year, approximately 9,000 maple trees across Lazy Crazy Acres’ rolling hills are tapped for their sap. Miles of tubing use gravity to carry the sap down to the sugar house, where a wood-fired evaporator transforms it into the rich, sweet maple syrup we know and love.
It’s a process that connects the finished product directly to the land it comes from. Behind every bottle are the maple trees, the changing seasons, and the work that goes into turning a natural ingredient into something worth sharing.
For visitors exploring the Catskills, it’s also a reminder that some of the region’s most memorable experiences come from the people and small businesses that have deep roots here.
A Sweet Idea That Brings People Together
Tree Juice Maple Syrup has another unique distinction: it pioneered the first maple syrup Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
CSA programs are often associated with local vegetable farms, allowing customers to support farmers in advance in exchange for a share of the harvest. Tree Juice adapted that model for maple syrup.
Through its CSA, customers purchase a small or large share before the season begins. When the season ends, members receive either a half gallon or a full gallon of maple syrup.
This approach helps provide farmers with funds for essential supplies at the beginning of the season, while giving customers a direct connection to the farm and its harvest.
The program has also helped cultivate a loyal community of what Tree Juice affectionately calls its “syrupaholics.” Their continued support has played an important role in the business, demonstrating how a community can help sustain local agriculture while enjoying the rewards of the harvest.
More Than Traditional Maple Syrup
While pure maple syrup is a classic for a reason, Tree Juice offers more than the traditional variety. The team has developed alternative flavors and seasonal varieties for those looking to try something a little different.
Whether you're drizzling syrup over a stack of pancakes, adding a touch of sweetness to your favorite breakfast, or experimenting with new ways to use it in the kitchen, these varieties offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy maple syrup beyond the basics.
For anyone who loves discovering regional specialties, Tree Juice is a delicious example of the creativity and character you'll find among Catskills-area producers.
Behind the Bottle: A Chat with Tree Juice
Every local business has a story, and we wanted to get to know the people behind Tree Juice Maple Syrup a little better. From their roots at Lazy Crazy Acres Farm to what makes their maple syrup special, we chatted with the team about their journey, their process, and life in the Catskills.
For those discovering Tree Juice for the first time, how would you describe what you do and what makes Tree Juice unique?
Our "Thing" is making great maple syrup and then getting creative with some of it and infusing it with things like Vanilla or Banana or Blueberries.
How did Tree Juice get started, and what inspired you to begin making maple syrup?
We started in the 2012 season as the sap house had been vacant for some years and Jake and Ryan were inspired to resurrect it. We tapped 460 trees that season, which was a terrible one for the industry as it was a very warm winter and spring, but we had fun!
Where did the name “Tree Juice” come from?
Ryan came up with the name in what I can only assume was a fever dream!
What does maple season look like for you? Can you give us a glimpse into the process of going from tree to bottle?
Crazy! We usually plan to start tapping in early January, as it takes a while (at least a month) to tap over 9000 trees. Once we're fully tapped we switch to maintenance mode - fixing leaks in the tubing, cutting fallen trees off of lines, and the like. The leak fixing is a daily chore. There's also sap to haul from our remote sap bush back to the sap house, moving full and empty 40 gallon barrels of syrup in and out of the sap house, and (oh, yeah) boiling!
How does being located in the Catskills influence your maple syrup, your process, or the way you run your business?
I am a local yokel - my family has been here in this little valley of the Catskills for close to two centuries and I want to keep that legacy going. My grandfather bought my farm in 1930, so almost a century on this farm.
What does being a small, local business in the Catskills mean to you?
The Catskills are my home, and I have watched this area shrink over the years as businesses closed and families moved away for better opportunities, so to see the revitalization of this place, not to mention being a part of it, has warmed the cockles of my cold, dead heart!
What do you love most about being part of the Catskills community, and what makes this area special to you?
I love the mountains and the history of the place, and the fact that my family played a tiny role in that history just makes it that much cooler! One of my ancestors was part of the Anti Rent War of the 1840s and was one of the men hanged for the shooting of the sheriff.
For guests visiting the Catskills and staying with Casskell Stays, what would you recommend they experience while they're in the area?
I don't know Sullivan County very well, but I know there is a great BBQ place in Livingston Manor - Van Smokey's.
What's your favorite way to enjoy Tree Juice maple syrup—or what's one thing you wish more people knew about real maple syrup?
Our Rye Whiskey Maple Syrup drizzled over a warm brownie is amazing! But so is our Zesty Lemon sweetening your tea....and our Chocolate sweetening my coffee every morning...and the Banana on pancakes is so freaking good!
I wish more people understood that the syrup doesn't just come out of the tree! The usual ratio of sap to syrup for us is about 50-1, so there's a lot of work to make that syrup!
What's next for Tree Juice? Are there any new products, projects, or things you're excited to share with the community?
What's next? We have a couple of new flavors up our sleeves and hopefully some expansion in the woods so we can try to keep up with demand!
A Little Taste of the Catskills with Casskell Stays
At Casskell Stays, we believe that a memorable getaway is about more than where you sleep. It’s about experiencing the places, people, and local traditions that make a destination special.
That’s why we’re delighted to introduce our guests to Tree Juice Maple Syrup™. When you stay at a Casskell Stays property, you’ll receive a complimentary sample of Tree Juice Maple Syrup as a little taste of the Catskills to enjoy during your visit.
It’s a small addition to your stay, but one that reflects something we value: supporting the local businesses that make this region so special.
From family farms and independent shops to the makers and creators who call the Catskills home, there’s so much to discover beyond your vacation rental. We love finding ways to bring those local connections into the guest experience, helping visitors feel a little more connected to the place they’ve come to explore.
Discover the Local Flavor
The next time you pour maple syrup over breakfast, take a moment to appreciate the story behind it. For Tree Juice Maple Syrup, that story begins with a historic family farm, thousands of maple trees, and a community that believes in supporting local agriculture.
We’re proud to share a little taste of that story with our guests and encourage you to discover more of the wonderful local businesses that make the Catskills such a special place to visit.
Planning your Catskills getaway? Explore our vacation rentals with Casskell Stays, and enjoy a little local sweetness during your stay.
