David Fuller, of Fuller’s Sugarhouse in Lancaster, New Hampshire, works to process maple tree sap into award-winning syrups, candies, sugar, and cream. Fuller has been steadily expanding his business since first working with FSA in 2002.
By Michael Booth, Public Affairs Specialist
Here at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA), we’re always looking for ways to better serve farmers and ranchers. Normally, that means a lot of talk about corn, wheat, soybeans, vegetables, livestock, fruits, and fiber that can make us a bit hungry.
Today, we’re in the mood for something sweet. And, we know one of the best places in the country to go to satisfy that craving.
Fuller’s Sugarhouse in Lancaster, New Hampshire has served up internationally-recognized maple products including syrup, candy, cream, and sugar since the 1970s and is a staple tourist destination for those visiting this community, the gateway to the New Hampshire North Country. So, we thought we’d pack up the FSA wagon and head on over to see Dave and Patti Fuller.
Tucked just off Main Street in downtown Lancaster behind a storage barn stands an unassuming red and white storefront that disguises the connected warehouse and shop. All told, the building covers more than 6,000 square feet on a single level.
A small sign near the street advertises “great gift ideas from New England” and might make you think you’ve discovered a little-known corner of the world that you can either tell all your friends about — or just keep it all to yourself. But, as it turns out, you’d be way too late if you chose the latter option.
Fuller’s Sugarhouse has 10,000 tree taps and harvests an average of 4,000 gallons of tree sap each year to turn into award-winning syrups, sugar and tasty sweets. Their products are sold nationwide and beyond, to stores, restaurants, and to other food manufacturers as ingredients.
The storefront in Lancaster is just a tiny part of the Fuller’s business. Though small and inviting, it hides a major business driven by pure rural America work ethic—and a little pure maple syrup.
“We started in 1973 and it’s just grown from there,” said David Fuller. It’s a passion gone wild. I get up early in the morning, walk across the yard, and go to work.”
The business grew incrementally until around 2002, when Fuller talked to an FSA loan officer about reaching the point where they needed to expand. He took out a small, low interest loan with FSA to add more tree taps on leased land.
“It was kind of a turning point for us,” said Fuller. “We added more trees, then needed bigger and faster equipment and more space in the sugarhouse. It brought us from a tiny little business to the point where we have nine fulltime employees and are looking to add several more.”
Fuller has continued to work with FSA since that first loan in 2002 and has talked to other maple producers in the area about the benefits of working with FSA. He’s even planning yet another expansion of Fuller’s Sugarhouse soon.
As we pack up the FSA wagon to head back home, we wonder how long it’ll take us to run out of the sweet maple syrup and candies bought at Fuller’s Sugarhouse and start planning our next visit to get our sugar fix. But, we know that if we get held up, we can always order online. This is a popular business, after all.
As consumer demand for local products rises, U.S. farmers and ranchers like David Fuller are working to meet the demand by creating local markets for their products and USDA is working hard to introduce these family farmers and ranchers to the American consumer.
Between 2009 and 2015, USDA invested over $1 billion in more than 40,000 local and regional food businesses and infrastructure projects.
For more information about local food and markets visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/knowyourfarmer?navid=kyf-kyf. For more information on FSA programs and loans visit http://www.fsa.usda.govor contact your local FSA office. To locate an office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
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