Governor Andrew Cuomo announced July 6 that New York's maple industry produced 806,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2018, a 74-year record. Cuomo's press release claims the maple industry has grown by nearly 50 percent in the state in the last five years. "The maple industry is one of New York's most important agricultural sectors, and it continues to grow year-over-year, infusing millions into the economy and bringing New York national recognition for its quality," Cuomo was quoted saying in the press release. "The growth of the industry is an indicator of our fantastic producers, who work hard to make some of the best maple syrup in the country and the innovative and unique maple products that consumers are demanding." The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says New York produced about 19 percent of the nation's maple syrup, with more than 2.73 million taps in production in 2018, the most since 1943. New York had a longer season in 2018: 52 days, compared to 43 days in 2017. The full press release is available at governor.ny.gov.