HILLSBURGH – A long-awaited season has come early across the province and in Wellington County, and one local maple syrup farm is embracing the record-breaking weather.
Canada makes up 80 per cent of the world’s syrup, according to a tree farmer at Elliott Tree Farm in Hillsburgh.
Derek Elliott says this year, he and his farm have gotten a head start unlike any prior year.
Elliott says typically tapping isn’t in full swing until much later.
He says the change in weather patterns won’t change the process, and that differences in colour of syrup occur naturally throughout the season, and went on to add last weekend for Family Day was unique due to the warm temperatures.
Like wine regions, Elliott says, where different grapes create different flavours, he added each region has different flavour, and he believes Wellington County produces some of the best syrup in the world.
Elliott explained the ideal temperatures for making maple syrup are below zero at night and above zero during the day to get the sap flowing.
