Freeze-thaw cycles create maple syrup bonanza in Ottawa-Gatineau
Cold temperatures at night, warmth during the day lead to extra long season — but not further north
Rollercoaster weather patterns this winter and spring have been a boon for maple syrup producers in the National Capital Region.
Nicolas Simard, production manager at Proulx Maple and Berry Farm in Cumberland, Ont., said this season has been especially strong.
"We've had a really good season," he said. "We actually really need the cold nights — so frost at night and in the day, between one and five degrees Celsius, is the ideal temperature."
Those ideal temperatures have the sap flowing at in large volumes.
"It takes 40 litres of sap to make one litre of maple syrup. In a day, we average around 50 to 70 litres of maple syrup," Simard said. "That's with 2,000 taps."
"Compared to last year, it looks really good," added André Filion of Vignoble Chelsea, which has around 850 taps.
'It's long hours'
The Proulx farm has been operating for nearly 100 years and it's about to change hands. Melissa Proulx represents the fourth generation of her family to take the helm.
Even after spending her entire childhood on the farm, this season stands out, Proulx said.
"I don't remember from my earliest childhood ever having this long of a maple syrup season," she said. "Usually by this time of year, we're gearing toward the end."
As mid-April approaches the evaporation process is still in full swing, with staff members splitting shifts to make sure all the sap gets processed in time.
"It's long hours. It's not something that you can just do as a job. It's something that you have to love," Proulx said. "Sap doesn't keep, so you don't have a choice."
The sugar shack the farm uses today is the same one built by her grandfather and her great-grandfather in 1920, Proulx said.
All the sap undergoes an evaporation process that takes between two and three hours, Simard said, eventually ending up in bottles that head either to stores or to the farm's breakfast table.
The farm serves visitors a full breakfast, including eggs, beans, sausage and pancakes — all smothered in fresh maple syrup.
Trouble further north
Producers north of the Gatineau area have had different weather, leading to a slower start to the season.
"The barrels are empty," said Joanne Bocage, co-owner of Sucerie BeauBel in Haute-Gatineau, about 40 kilometres north of Maniwaki.
Bocage told Radio-Canada late last week that she's been in the business for 16 years and it's rare to have so little syrup in April.
"I know there are areas further south where it's working [better] but here … it's very late, it's worrying," she said.
Environment Canada meteorologist Steve Boily said further north, there hasn't been as big of a thaw as closer to the Ottawa River, calling Haute-Gatineau "unlucky."
The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers told Radio-Canada it is too early in the season to tell what kind of year it will be across the province.
