Maple syrup season arrives early at Canada’s most southern sugar shack
Maple tree tapping started a week sooner than usual in southern Ontario where a mild winter has maple syrup hobbyists and producers hoping things cool down.
Sap buckets were overflowing less than 24 hours after being installed in Ruscom Station, Essex County.
“So far so good,” said Rob Nadeau, Ruscom Maple Products owner and operator.
“The heat that we've had, it’s just been ridiculous for the month of February,” Nadeau added. “We started looking at should we tap or shouldn't we tap. Again looking at the patterns down south of us, they’re tapping already so let's give it a shot.”
According to Nadeau, 456 silver maple trees were hand tapped at his family operated farm on Feb. 7, with 100 more to follow soon.
According to Rob Nadeau, Ruscom Maple Products owner and operator, tapping of maple syrup trees began a week earlier than usual in 2023. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)He said things traditionally get underway on Valentine’s Day based on how producers are operating south of the border in U.S. states like Ohio and Indiana, believing his operation to be the southern most in all of Canada.
“If this early run is any indication with the cold snap coming next week, we're hoping to have a run right into the end of March.”
But, Nadeau fears if more winter-like weather doesn’t return soon, the sweetest season ever could be cut short.
“It's going to be our biggest year of all time,” Nadeau explained. “There's no doubt as long as the sap runs. If the heat stays and the trees start budding, the sap will no longer be good. So we're hoping that's not the case. And I think I've got faith in nature and it's [going to] come.”
The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association said freezing temperatures are needed at night to keep sap flowing during the day.
According to Rob Nadeau, Ruscom Maple Products owner and operator, tapping of maple syrup trees began a week earlier than usual in 2023. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)“Compared to what we had 20, 30, 40 years ago, we're already regularly tapping ahead of that,” said President John Williams. “And now we seem to be looking at an extra week or two ahead this year.”
He continued, “Once we’re tapped, if we get a lot of that minus five at night and plus five in the daytime, then we can we can still have a good season.”
Williams told CTV News Windsor, “At this point, I wouldn't say anyone is panicking. We're certainly concerned. We can still have a good season. But, we're trying to be ready to make the best of it.”
Williams noted Ontario ranked third in the country for maple syrup production, behind Quebec and New Brunswick. He encouraged more people to consider the seasonal industry, and said there were currently 600 OMSPA members registered, but likely thousands of hobbyists across the province.
“We have more available trees in Ontario than Quebec, so there's a lot of potential,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.