An Ontario Maple Syrup Producers spokesman says 2016 was a good year for the provincial crop.
Ray Bonenberg calls it a 1 in 10 year for the province's producers.
"1 in 5 are sometimes below normal and 1 in 5 are highly above normal. I would say, again, this is a 1 in 10 year above-normal cycle with both volume, sugar content to the sap was high, and flavour."
Bonenberg says the season got started early, as had been expected, and ran well into April.
While parts of the extreme southwest got too warm for good production, he says that didn't hurt the crop's flavour in that area.
"And you get a stronger, earthy flavour to the syrup because the trees literally are starting to wake up, if you wish. But that only happened in a few isolated areas. For the most part, the flavour remained with the rich maple bouquet to the syrup which lasted right into early April."
Ontario maple syrup producers are starting to phase in their new labelling this year.
It uses both colour and flavour descriptors to help consumers find the syrup they like.
Bonenberg says that phase-in period will last for two years before the labels become mandatory, giving producers time to clean out the stock of old packaging they may have on hand.
And he's got some advice for consumers.
Because Ontario doesn't produce enough syrup to meet provincial demand, he suggests they develop a good relationship with a producer and get themselves on a list for fresh maple syrup in the spring.
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Bonenberg says it got a little warm in parts of Southwestern Ontario - but it didn't affect the flavour.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/BONENBERG-Maple-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Bonenberg says as with other farm crops, you can have good years and you can have bad years.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/BONENBERG-Maple-2.mp3"][/audio]
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Bonenberg has some advice for consumers given that Ontario does not produce enough syrup to meet provincial demand.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/BONENBERG-Maple-3.mp3"][/audio]
