Time to Make Maple Syrup and Look for Insect Damage

On Tuesday Governor Maggie Hassan jump-started the New Hampshire maple season by drilling her ceremonial maple tree. After the long, hard winter the milder weather and dripping sap gave hope to all. This year the NH Maple Producers Association (NHMPA) held the event at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester to show appreciation for the hard work of the teacher and students who produce maple syrup—and for the learning that results from this hands-on experience working with nature. The center is located at North River Road, on farmland once owned and farmed by Revolutionary War hero General John Stark—of “Live free or die” fame.

Students at the reform school operated by the NH Department of Health and Human Services tap the historic sugar maples at the site, and transform the sap they collect into pure maple syrup. Tim Sullivan, teacher at the Sununu Center, leads the popular program. Students have been tapping maples for 15 years, and built the sugarhouse with staff assistance. Sullivan says alumni often speak highly of their experience with the maple program, which was fully integrated into the educational curriculum three years ago. Two years ago the NHMPA selected a student in the program for its Walter Felker Award, given by the association to a young man or woman involved in sugarmaking to promote and encourage interest in the production and marketing of high quality maple products.

NHMPA chooses member producer sugarhouses for the Governor’s tapping event to showcase the diversity of member operations—size, production methods and technology, etc. “The NHMPA chose this location as it is unique in both the location and the reason for the program.” Publicist Robyn Pearl notes. “It exemplifies how the maple process teaches responsibility to self and to a team to create an end product as well as learning a centuries old craft.”

(This column is excerpted from the Weekly Market Bulletin, March 11, 2015)