Ontario wants people to “Tap” into the season

Embrace Ontario’s food heritage with a trip to a local maple syrup producer to try some sweet, local and delicious maple syrup. With the wide variety of locally made maple products available to Ontarians, there’s a maple syrup colour and flavour intensity to please everyone’s taste.

During Ontario’s maple harvest season, mid-February to early April, more than two million litres of syrup is produced. “Everyone is welcome to stop by one of our sugar bushes, see maple syrup being made and take a tour around the operation,” Terry Hoover, President of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association said. With over $32 million in maple product sales last year, Ontarians aren’t just using this natural sweetener to top their pancakes anymore, but are using it in a variety of new and unique ways.

This year Foodland Ontario is encouraging Ontarians to experiment in their kitchens with new and exciting recipes for maple and mustard pork tenderloin, maple chicken with napa salad, maple-garlic spareribs and cabbage, and maple baked beans.

In the Milton area two Conservation Halton parks run events around maple syrup.  Crawford Lake hosts “Sweet Water season,” as a nod to the area’s aboriginal heritage.  Mountsberg hosts “Maple Town” featuring products from their own sugar bush.  For more information on hours, and admission prices visit their website.