A Sweet Surprise: Visiting Branon Family Maple Orchards in Fairfield, VT
While staying in Burlington, Vermont, we found ourselves underwhelmed by the downtown experience—gritty streets, graffiti, and an uncomfortable number of panhandlers on Church Street left us searching for something more authentic and inviting. Strangely, despite asking around, no one seemed to know that just 35 minutes away lies St. Albans City—officially recognized as the Maple Syrup Capital of the World! After doing some of our own research, we made the short drive north and were blown away.
St. Albans turned out to be everything we were hoping for and more. The town is absolutely charming, with clean streets, friendly shopkeepers, and a sense of pride in local tradition. It was the kindhearted staff in several downtown shops who repeatedly told us, “You have to go visit the Branon Family Maple Orchards.” We’re so glad we listened.
Only 15 minutes from downtown St. Albans, the Branon Family Maple Orchards in Fairfield is a 5th-generation farmstead nestled among the rolling hills of Vermont maple country. When we pulled in, we were greeted by a man putting up a sign who smiled and told us to just drive on past the house and head to the store—“Someone will be right with you.” That someone turned out to be Kyle, son of the owners, who gave us one of the warmest welcomes we’ve ever experienced.
The maple store was a treasure trove—beautifully arranged with everything from traditional syrups to maple barbecue sauce, seasonings, candies, and gourmet creations we’d never seen before. Kyle patiently walked us through the offerings, sharing personal stories about the farm and how some of the products are named after his children (the sixth generation!)—a touching testament to their family legacy.
To our surprise and delight, Kyle then offered us a private tour of the sugarhouse and production facility. If you’re lucky enough to be offered this opportunity, take it without hesitation. His deep knowledge of the process, from tapping to evaporation and bottling, was fascinating. We left with a new appreciation for the science, sustainability, and sheer hard work behind every drop of their maple syrup.
Needless to say, we stocked up—probably enough maple products to last a year—and made a family decision right then and there: going forward, we’ll be ordering all our maple syrup from the Branons.
A special note: Kyle kept saying, “I wish my mom were here—she’s the one behind the amazing new products.” If this visit was any indication, the entire family is not only innovating but doing it with heart, heritage, and incredible hospitality.
Thank you, Kyle and the entire Branon family—you gave us the sweetest highlight of our Vermont trip, and a reason to return again and again.