The Maple Sugar & Syrup industry involves the production and processing of maple sap into various maple products such as maple syrup, maple sugar, maple candy, and maple butter. This industry is a subset of the Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products industry, which focuses on the cultivation and harvesting of forest products. The process of producing maple syrup and other maple products begins with tapping maple trees to collect sap. The sap is then boiled down to remove the water content and concentrate the natural sugars. The resulting syrup can be further processed into other maple products such as sugar and candy. The Maple Sugar & Syrup industry is primarily located in regions with a high concentration of maple trees, such as the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The industry is often associated with small-scale, family-owned operations, although there are also larger commercial producers.