The maple sugar season is winding down in Southeast New Brunswick and one producer is calling it a rocky year to say the least.
Mother Nature has not been cooperating with a very cold March and a rollercoaster April so far.
Moncton Maple Sugar Camp spokesperson Heather Fraser says the season actually began much earlier than usual, “I’m glad that we were ready the end of February because our first boil was March 1st. We have been boiling just a little bit here and there. It hasn’t been the best of a season. We are probably about a third and a half season to what we are normally used to. Some Producers wait until mid-March to tap, and if you waited until then, you definitely missed two good weeks of running. We were lucky enough to be tapped in, and boiling March 1st.””
Fraser adds, temperatures have fluctuated as well, “By the time the sun came out, it was only noon or 2pm, and you would only have the warm temperatures until around 5pm or 6pm at night. That meant you weren’t getting a full run, you were only getting partial runs, which is probably why everyone has low productivity.”
Fraser says the camp saw a great visitor turnout this season and she adds being open during March Break helped a lot.
