From 'sideline' to 'major industry,' it's that sticky sweet time of year

ORO-MEDONTE TWP. — Sweetness will soon be flowing in area forests.

Maple syrup producers across Simcoe County are champing at the bit in anticipation of the upcoming season.

Spreading that sweetness around is turning into big business, as was apparent at an Oro-Medonte Township maple syrup operation this weekend.

The Hutchinson family — Michele and Doug, along with Doug’s father, Orval — hosted a tree-tapping event on the family’s property on Line 5 North in recognition of the Simcoe and District Maple Syrup Producers Association.

And another happy sap season is underway.

In 1974, Orval began producing maple syrup in a wood lot in what was then Oro Township using cast irons pots with only 200 taps. From 1975 to 1988, Orval, with the help of his family and son, Doug, expanded that to 800 taps and moved his operation into a sugar shack with a wood-fired evaporator.

Now the sugar-bush operation on the 5th Line is the next phase.

“I think I can speak on behalf of all of the producers in the county that we are just itching to get out there and get the sap flowing,” Michele Hutchinson said. “It’s definitely a passion. Everybody (the producers) loves it.”

Oro-Medonte Township Mayor Harry Hughes says the quest for maple syrup has created tourism opportunities.

“The tourism industry in Oro-Medonte now have a maple trail. You can go to a restaurant that uses local maple syrup,” he said, after watching local politicos tap trees. “To be able to go out and see where maple syrup is produced is really a unique experience, especially for kids. It’s part of the agriculture culture that goes on in the township.”

A lot of people now are using maple syrup instead of sugar, the mayor added.

“Say perhaps in their coffee. I put it on my cereal every morning and it’s just a great experience. The other part of it is you’ll see the grandparents taking the kids to the sugarbush; it’s part of their heritage," Hughes said. "A lot of them had done that the back in the days.”

Once upon a time, sugar was a very expensive product, Hughes added.

“When pioneers were looking for a replacement, maple syrup was the thing to do. You can see old pictures of the township’s history and everywhere you’ll see things about maple syrup production. It was quite an art," he said. 

“It’s so great to see how it’s gone from something like a sideline for a farm to a major industry. Ontario is really booming.”

Chris Ellsmere, of the Steamy Kettle Sugarbush near Craighurst, was enjoying the woodlot experience at the Hutchinsons' sugar bush.

“I had a person phone me from Kansas last week and just recently sent some syrup to Kentucky," he said.