BRESLAU – The Waterloo Wellington Chapter of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association (OMSPA) along with the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Committee recently announced the unofficial start of the maple tapping season.
“Traditionally the last Friday in February is set aside for a ceremony when producers, local dignitaries and members of the media get together to kick off the maple season and includes a ceremonial tree tapping, pancake lunch and the announcement of the ‘maple syrup producer of the year,’” said Kevin Snyder, president of the Waterloo Wellington chapter. “With ongoing limits to social gatherings and following the recommendations of the local health units, we have decided to scale back our ceremony this year.”
“Instead of our traditional group gathering , executive members from the Waterloo Wellington Chapter of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, and representatives of the Elmira Syrup Festival have focused on a press release to help spread the news that the season is underway,” officials state.
“This time of year we are busy getting prepared in the woodlot and in the sugarhouse. We should start seeing sap flow when temperatures rise to three-plus degrees Celsius during the day coupled with freezing temperatures at night,” said Snyder.
Available locally
Snyder reminds syrup enthusiasts to keep an eye out for locally made maple syrup at local stores or to make arrangements for pick up directly from a local producer.
A list of local producers can be found at the Ontario Maple Syrup Producer website, www.ontariomaple.com.
