HAMBURG, N.Y. — Tuesday was the ceremonial start to the maple season as Smith's Maple Farm in Hamburg tapped one of its trees and let the sap flow.

Maple syrup is a more than $140 million industry with more than 3,000 family farms statewide. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an expansion to the New York State Grown & Certified program to include the maple industry.

"We created a good housekeeping seal of approval on our products. That's going to give them a competitive edge when they're exporting to other countries or states. They know it has the approval of New York State. It gives it a special imprimatur that gives it an assurance of high quality," said Hochul. 

"Is it making us better? No. It is giving us trust. People can look at it and say ‘oh I know these guys know what they're doing,’ opposed to just some syrup sitting on a shelf," said Western New York Maple Producers Association President Greg Zimpfer. 

Syrup lovers will be able to get their hands on their favorite maple products at this year's maple weekends starting March 17 and March 24.