It may be small, but it’s sweet.
That would be Connecticut’s maple-sugaring industry, which is in full, um, flow from early February to late March.
On Feb. 14 Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and state agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt visited Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington to participate in the ceremonial tapping marking the start of the maple-sugaring season.
Connecticut is one of the nation’s top ten maple syrup producers, Bysiewicz pointed out. In 2018 the state’s 73,000 taps yielded some 18,000 gallons of syrup valued at about $1.2 million in retail sales. Not huge but, you know, kinda sweet nevertheless.
“Maple sugaring is one of Connecticut’s treasures with small businesses across the state tapping into nature’s sweetest treat,” said Hurlburt. “We need to pay attention to the challenges that climate change brings upon these businesses as we work to protect this native industry ensuring families can continue doing this for generations to come.”
To draw some public attention to this agricultural niche industry, members of the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut will host Maple Weekend 2020 March 21-22. Local sugarhouses around the state will host public tours and tastings (!) throughout the weekend. And of course, visitors can stock up on supplies of the sweet stuff sufficient to tide them over until next February.
To locate a sugarhouse open to the public near you, visit ctmaple.org.
