March Is Officially Maple Month In NH

Let the tapping begin!  March is officially Maple Month in New Hampshire and Mother Nature is cooperating.

If you love the gooey, delicious brown stuff you’re in for a good year.

Chris Hicks of Sugar House at Morningstar Farm tells WMUR Channel 9 that there have been ideal weather conditions for tapping the maple trees. Hicks says “usually we are just starting the process…but fortunately this year has been very early for us.”

This is good news because WMUR reports that maple production was down in 2019 due to extremely cold weather and squirrels chewing through tap lines.

It’s not a quick process either.

According to vermontmaple.org, “a sugar maple that is 10 to 12 inches in diameter and about 40 years old is only good for one tap…..and takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup.”

Vermontmaple.org says that a typical sugaring season lasts about 4 to 6 weeks and begins in March or April, depending on weather conditions.  What’s ideal?   A the website states a “pattern of freezing and thawing temperatures that reach 40-45 degrees during the day will build up pressure within the trees and get the sap to flow.”

Hicks tells WMUR that they tap about 7,000 trees in Plaistow at Morningstar Farm.  He says that customers also feel strongly about supporting local businesses.

If your taste buds are now salivating for all things maple, there’s more good news.

WMUR reports that maple producers will host the 25^th annual New Hampshire Maple Weekend on March 21^st and March 22^nd.

Let us know your favorite New England Sugar Houses below!