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Weather Affects Maple Syrup Production


13 WHAM TV interviewed Bob King on Tuesday about this year’s low production and lower sugar content of maple syrup due to warm weather conditions last January. This year, sugar bush operators are hoping for cold weather to keep the trees in dormancy until the timing is right for tapping. Below is a copy of the story on 13 WHAM’s Web site, and attached is a news release detailing the maple syrup production in our local region.

Maple Syrup Prices to Rise

Chalonda Roberts (Hilton, N.Y.) - Ron Zarpentine has been producing maple syrup in his farm for more than 30 years.

"We're usually full," said Zarpentine.  "We usually have stock in the back of the counter."

Zarpentine customers have seen less maple syrup on his shelves this year, however. He said during all of his years in business, he had never seen production so low or demand so high.

The demand came from consumers wanting to add more maple syrup to their diet, as well as an increased trend to buy more locally roduced products.

Zarpentine said he hoped for normal maple syrup production this year, but due to less-than-ideal weather, production is down 50% from last year.  As a result, Zarpentine and other producers have been unable to tap their trees in a timely fashion.

Monroe Community College's Director of Agriculture Bob King said, "A lot of maple producers missed the optimal tapping window. Hence a lot of the sap is below sugar quality about 2%.  A lot of them didn't get as much volume as they normally do."

This year, maple syrup will be mainly dark and medium amber grades with very little syrup.

Due to the untimely tapping, retailers have been forced to increase prices as much as 20 percent.

Zarpentine hopes for cold weather to force trees into dormancy, then he hopes for warmer weather for the sap to start flowing in the trees.

"It's difficult this year," he said.  "Last year we tapped in January, because it came so quick.

He hopes the timing next year will be a little sweeter.

 

Dianne E McConkey
College and Community Relations
12/20/2007


Attachments:
icon maple syrup.doc