There’s only one thing local maple producers love more than speaking about syrup this time of year.

That’s making it.

Friday’s annual Maple in the County media day at LOHA Farms on Luck’s Crossroad was short and sweet. For good reason.

An overnight freeze followed by strong morning sunshine mean Prince Edward County maples are seeing heavy sap runs. The festival’s participants were eager to get back to their sap houses and sugar bushes to get on with the job.

The County’s 2025 maple syrup season started March 1 and 2 with Maple Madness events every weekend. It culminates with the annual Maple in the County Festival March 29 and 30. Together, LOHA Farms, Fosterholm Farms, Roblins Maple Syrup, Sweetwater Farms/Hubbs Sugar Bush and Vaders will open sap houses and sugar bushes on the final weekend of the month, welcoming the public to take a first hand look at the syrup making process.

This year’s maple season, more than any before it in this century, is a season for patriotism. The sweet syrup produced by Indigenous peoples long before the settlers arrived is now pretty much synonymous with Canada. You might even say maple syrup is the Canadian Spirit. With our nation’s economy under threat from U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariff attacks, stocking up on the growing season’s first crop is not just delicious, it is the patriotic thing to do.

“People are more mindful now than ever before of supporting our Canadian economy and producers and it starts here in Prince Edward County,” Mayor Steve Ferguson said. “Whether it’s our maple producers or Sprague soup or anything else, it’s really important to support our local businesses at every opportunity. We are so blessed not to have to go hundreds of kilometres to eat well.” 

For a complete listing of both Maple Madness and Maple in the County events, check out visitthecounty.com/maple-celebrations.