Brace Yourself, A Maple Syrup Shortage Is On The Horizon
SHARE
Unsplash
While people in Japan are taking maple syrup baths, warmer-than-average weather in the Northeast poses a threat to maple syrup production here in the U.S. Yes, that’s right, you might have to consider other toppings on your morning flapjacks.
According to Food & Wine, “Farmers estimate that production of maple syrup has dipped by as much as 75 percent.”
Record-breaking warmer temperatures in February left farmers in maple-producing states like Vermont and Pennsylvania in a tough spot, with not knowing the right time to start tapping into their trees. The question of when to tap is a tricky subject — if farmers tap the trees too early, the holes might dry out and not give enough sap when the perfect weather conditions come along a few weeks later. With the unpredictable weather, this year has been a gamble for sugarmakers across the Northeast.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says, “Below-freezing nights followed by warmer days, a weather pattern that usually starts in Pennsylvania in early to mid-February, are necessary to start the maple sap flowing and keep it flowing through March, and even early April in the northern tier counties of the state where most maple farms are located.”
There’s no telling what mother nature has in store for us this month but there’s still hope if the weather cooperates. Gary Bilek, the president of the Pennsylvania Maple Syrup Producers Council, who has been tapping trees since 1988 says “unless subfreezing nighttime temperatures return, maple sap collection could end almost before it normally begins and earlier than it ever has.”
As much as we’d like to see warm weather stay around, think of your pancakes and cross your fingers for some below-freezing nights up in those syrup-producing regions. Pure maple syrup (sorry Aunt Jemima) has become increasingly popular in the realm of clean eating and is often used as a natural sweetener in all sorts of savory and sweet recipes. If there’s a price jump on syrup in the future, honey is always a good alternative.
Unsplash
Next on
