Nova Scotia's Maple Industry
Currently, there are
over 70 maple producers in Nova 
Scotia
with the total number of taps over 300,000. This represents ten percent
of the 36,000 acres of good producing maple sugar trees in the province.
Annual production exceeds 140,000 litres of maple syrup. The bulk of this
crop is sold as syrup. The remainder is used to produce products such
as:
• Maple Butter
• Maple Cream
• Maple Jelly
• Maple Sugar
Buying Maple Syrup
Look for "Pure
Maple Syrup" written on the label for genuine, 100 percent pure maple
product. The grades and color class of the syrup will also be on the label
as shown below:
• Canada No. 1 (Extra Light, Light, Medium)
• Canada No. 2 (Amber)
• Canada No. 3 (Dark)
Many people prefer the dark syrup for baking because of the stronger maple
flavour.
Sugar Party?
Have you ever been to a "sugaring off" party?
Why not plan one of your own this season.
Your celebration of the maple season can be as simple as a sugar on the snow demonstration and a tasting party, or as elaborate as an evening of night dancing, food and entertainment for all ages.
Proceedure: Boil maple syrup in a medium to large size pot. Most versions suggest 110-120 degrees Celsius on the candy thermometer. If you don't have thermometer, drop a tablespoon of syrup over some hard-packed fresh snow. The maple syrup should be transformed on contact with the cold snow. Suddenly, before you is a waxy, sweet, chewy taffy-like candy, and the taste is unforgettable!!
Glossary -- "Sweet Talk"
Filtering: The process of clarifying pure maple syrup. Raw syrup contains various suspended particles (called "sugar sand") brought out in the boiling process. In earlier days, these particles were "settled out" in bulk containers before retail packaging. Today, we filter through cloth and paper membranes, producing crystal clear syrup.
Shelf Life: Unopened containers of pure maple syrup may be left in a cool, dark place for 6 months without refridgeration. After opening, syrup should be refridgerated. Freezer storage keeps open or unopened containers indefinitely, and the liquid does not solidify. A mold on the surface of opened syrup may be skimmed off, and the product may be reused after heating to 190 degrees Farenheit. Place reheated syrup into a new, airtight container.
Sugaring Time: (Season) Occurs in early spring when days are 35-45 degrees and nights are below freezing. When several of these days occur in succession, sap begins to flow. When nightime temperatures remain above freezing and days warm into the 50's, the trees begin to bud and the season ends.
Tapping: The first step in sugaring, when 7/16 inch diameter holes are drilled about 3 inches deep into the maple tree trunks. Many old trees have been tapped in this way for 75 or more years.
Maple Sugar Producers
There are over 70
maple producers in Nova Scotia, many
of them who have camps and welcome visitors, some year-round. Producers
are alphabetically listed by county below. Remember, it's always best
to phone aheead.
Maple Producers Association
of Nova Scotia. 12 Valley Rd, Westchester Stn,
B0M 2A0.
Tel: 548-2973
Fax: 902-548-2833
jbentley@ns.sympatico.ca
http://novascotiamaplesyrup.com
Jean Bentley
Annapolis County
Thomas Wilson Bell.
Box 114, Annapolis Royal,
B0S 1A0
Antigonish County
Haveracres Farms.
St. Joseph's Rd,
RR1, Antigonish,
B2G 2K8
Tel: 863-3614
Jason Haverkort
Our sugar camp is located 200m off St. Joseph's Road. We have the only commercial sugar bush operation in Antigonish County. Our operation produces syrup from 8000 taps on a pipeline system using reverse osmosis and a 4X12 wood fired evaporator. Visitors are welcome during the season; please call before travelling to the camp to ensure we are in operation.
Cape Breton
Black River Maple
Products (See Shunpiking Article)
PO Box 55, Mabou,
Nova Scotia B0E 1X0
Telephone (902)258-3354
Fax (902)258-3244
Sales Contact Neal Livingston
Cape North Development
Ltd.
Box 4, Dingwall, B0C 1G0
Ken MacKinnon
Cape Perce Nature
Tours Ltd.
Sand Lake Rd,
RR1, Port Morien,
B0A 1T0
Tel: 737-2684.
shearwater@seascape.ns.ca
Melody Mountain Maple
Creations.
311 Grenville St,
Port Hawkesbury,
B0E 3L0
Melody Rooyakkers
Paul MacKenzie.
64
Leonard St,
Sydney, B1S 2T5
Colchester County
Alfred Grew.
RR1,
Bass River,
B0M 1B0
Boondock Maple.
Earltown
Tel: 657-3348
Scot Whitelaw
Brian Brown.
Oxford,
B0M 1P0
Davison’s Pancake
House & Maple Products
– Newville Lakeview Farms.
RR1, Parrsboro,
B0M 1S0.
Tel: 254-2562.
Charles Davison
Don Beebe.
Wentworth,
B0M 1Z0
Gordon Fisher.
Bass River
Kirmac Maple Products.
2 Greenvale Court,
Truro, NS B2N 6H3
kirmacmaple@ns.sympatico.ca
Tel: 895-9306
Roadside camp in Earltown,
25 minutes from Truro on Earltown-Kemptown
Road. Take Hwy 104 exit 18, or Hwy 311 and watch for signs. Please call
ahead to avoid disappointment.
Jamey Baird. RR6, Truro, B2N 5B4
John Kennedy. Truro
Maple Ridge Farms.
95 Smith Ave.,
Truro,
B2N 1C6.
Tel/Fax: 895-8641
gcook@tru.eastlink.ca
G. Cook
Guided tours on request. Camp: New Annan, 6 km from paved road. Sugar off by appointment. Visitors welcome.
Sugar Moon Farm Maple
Products and Pancake House
Alex MacDonald Rd, Earltown, B0K 1V0
Tel: 657-3348
1-866-81-MAPLE(2753)
info@sugarmoon.ca
www.sugarmoon.ca
Quita Gray/Scott Whitelaw
Open year round offering:
fully licensed Maple Breakfast served all day; Maple Products; Sugar Camp
Tours; Sugar Bush hiking, skiing & snowshoeing trails; Sleigh &
Wagon Rides (seasonally by reservation); Chef's Nights - gourmet maple
dining experiences; Group Bookings & Private Parties
Hours of Operation: Open Weekends Year Round, Sat. & Sun. 9 am to
5 pm
Open daily from June 15 to Labour Day, 9 am - 5 pm
Group bookings & reservations are always possible outside of these
hours - contact us for info.
Swan’s Maple
Products.
RR4, Tatamagouche,
B0K 1V0
Tel: 657-2547 or 657-2462
Jim Bezanson
Camp: Central New Annan. Less than 3 km from Route #256 on Government maintained road. (Grist Mill Road) For more detailed directions or prices, please call. Visitors welcome anytime. Year round sales of maple products.
Cumberland County
Arnold K Goodwin.
RR1, Southampton,
B0M 1W0.
Tel: 546-2346
Camp: East Mapleton (on Lynn Rd.) Distancefrom paved road: Roadside. Sugar
Off: Yes, by appointment. Visitors Welcome.
Austin's Sugar Woods,
RR#1 Springhill
NS B0M 1X0
Tel: (902) 597-2882
Keith and Nancy Lou
In operation over 60 years. Keith is a third generation producer. Camp: Rodney, next to Springhill. 1.6 km from paved road (a pleasant walk or drive). Plan a day... sample the taste of maple & experience springtime in the woods. Sugar off times vary. Visitors welcome. Groups call ahead.
Bentley’s Maple.
12 Valley Rd, Westchester Stn, B0M 2A0.
Tel: 548-2973
Fax: 548-2833
Email: jbentley@ns.sympatico.ca
Avard Bentley
Come one, come all!! Camp: Westchester Mtn. Distance from paved road: 2 km. Distance from pavement 6 km. Sugar off: Yes, times vary. Visitors welcome. Groups welcome by appointment. Join us for a Tree Tapping Day on March 20/2004 from 1-4:30 pm.
Davison's Pancake
House & Maple Products
RR#1 Parrsboro NS B0M 1S0
TEl: (902) 254-2562
Camp: Halfway River, 100 ft from road. Sugar off daily from March 5 to April 11. Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Weekdays by appointment. Visitors welcome.
D. L. Hanna & Sons Ltd. RR1, Parrsboro, B0M 1S0
Dickinson Brothers.
RR3, Southampton, B0M 1W0. Tel:
Tel: 546-2342
Fax: 546-2787
Email: karen.dickinson@ns.sympatico.ca
K Dickinson
Camp: 7799 Hwy 2, West Brook. Distance from paved road: Roadside. Sugar off: Yes, times vary. Visitors welcome: 9am-5pm. Groups, please call ahead.
Donkin’s Sugar
Woods. RR6, Amherst, B4H 3Y4
Tel: 667-3729
Donald Donkin
Frosty Maple Products.
491 Southbrook Rd, RR1, Southampton, B0M 1W0
Tel: 546-2275
Harold Langille
Camp: 491 South Brook Rd. (Mapleton). Roadside camp. Sugar off on weekends. Visitors welcome. Groups please call ahead.
Gary Hunter. RR1, Springhill, B0M 1X0
Glen Smith. 233 McGee St, RR1, Springhill, B0M 1X0
Hugh Adams. RR1, Southampton, B0M 1W0
Keith Austin. RR1, Springhill, B0M 1X0
Ken Nelson. Box 405, Amherst, B4H 3Z5
Little River Farms. RR3, Oxford, B0M 1P0. Derrick O’Donnell
Kevin McCormick. RR1,
Springhill, B0M 1X0
Tel: 597-2645 cell 664-2744
Fax: 597-8228
Email: kevinmccormick@ns.sympatico.ca
Camp: Rodney, look for a sign at 820 Rodney Road. Walk or drive 1.6 km from paved road. Bulk operation - packaged product available. Visitors welcome anytime for self guided tours.
Mapleton Enterprises
Ltd. RR1, Southampton, B0M 1W0
Tel/Fax: 546-2844
J Keith Crowe
East Mapleton, Lynn Road. Camp roadside (a 10 min walk to tapped trees). Sugar off at various times. Visitors welcome. Groups please call ahead.
Max Spicer. Spencer’s Island, B0M 1S0
Neil Ripley. RR2,
Nappan Station, B0L 1C0
Tel: 667-3978
Robin Boss. RR1, Springhill, B0M 1X0
Stanley Thompson.
18480 Hwy#2, Fenwick NS, B0I 1C0
667-3044
Stanley Thompson
Camp: Fenwick, .5 km from paved road. Sugar off daily. Visitors welcome.
Wendell Smith. RR3,
Amherst, B4H 3Y1
Tel: 447-3466
Wild Blueberry &
Maple Centre. 105 Lower Main St, Box 338, Oxford, B0M 1P0.
Tel: 477-2908
townblue@town.oxford.ns.ca
www.town.oxford.ns.ca
Crystal Rushton
Wyvern Farms Ltd.
762 Wyvern Rd., Collingwood Corner, NS BOM 1EO
Phone: 686-3357
Fax: (902) 686-3209
Email: bsweet@oxf.eastlink.ca
Brian Sweet
Camp: 762 Wyvern Road. Distance from paved road: Roadside. Sugar off: Yes, times vary. Visitors welcome.
Digby County
Clement Comeau Maple Products. Box 110, RR1, Saulnierville, B0M 2A0
Halifax County
Acadian Maple Products
Camp
Camp: 13578 Peggy's Cove Rd. (Hwy#333), Upper Tantallon, Halifax Co. NS
B0J 2N0
Tel: 826-2312
Fax: 820-3000
info@acadianmaple.com
www.acadianmaple.com
Brian Allaway
Easily located at the end of the Hammonds Plains Rd. in Upper Tantallon. See how maple syrup is produced and visit our retail outlet to find a wide assortment of maple products.Items include syrup, cream, butter, sugar, maple flavoured coffee & tea, maple BBQ sauce, maple roasted peanuts, brittle and more. Sugar on snow, weather and conditions permitting. $2/person.
James Hutchinson. Box 2, Upper Musquodoboit, B0N 2M0
Hants County
David Hill. 6690 Hwy 215, RR1, Maitland, B0N 1T0
Kings County
Del DeRoche. RR5, Berwick
Munro’s Mountain
Maple Sugar Camp.
RR2 Wolfville, 347 Sunken Lake Road, NS B4P 2R2.
Tel: 542-2658
Perry Munro
Camp: off Hwy 101, Exit 11 - 4 miles to Sunken Lake. Distance from paved road 600 yards. Perry and Judi Munro and family. Pancakes/syrup/maple beans/brown breadserved on weekends from mid-March to mid-April. Must phone ahead for appointment -- 4 sittings per day beginning at 10 a.m. Sleigh rides available on weekends. Sugar off weekends and by appointment.
Inverness County
Black River Maple
Products. Box 55, Mabou, B0E 1X0
Tel: 258-3354
Neal Livingstone
Camp: 1 km in on MacLellan’s Rd. off Hwy #19 in Black River between Mabou and Inverness. Open March and April. Visitors welcome, please call ahead.
Lunenburg County
M. C. Vienot & Sons. RR6, Bridgewater, B4V 2W5
Rex Vienot Maple Products.
Maplewood, RR1, Barss Corner, B0R 1A0
Tel: 644-3358
Pictou County
Dalhousie Maple Products.
RR2, Durham, B0K 1H0
Tel: 485-4526
D. L. MacLean
Family operated, dedicated to top quality. Because our sugar bush is located in a remote area, we have established a small packaging plant at our Durham location. Visitors are always welcomed.
Greg & Marie Morois. Box 248, Pictou, B0K 1H0
Murdock Sutherland. RR1, Scotsburn, B0K 1R0