Tree to table

New ‘sugar bush’ tour taps region’s maple resources

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — Despite the dirty drawbacks of mud season, this time of year is special in a sweet sort of way. Warming days followed by cold nights provide the right combination not only for muck, but also for the flow of maple sap, setting the stage for harvest by bucket or line, and ultimately, for that incomparably delicious syrup and other items offered by maple producers in the region.

In support of this local agricultural initiative, the first self-guided tour of maple producers located in Wayne, Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties has been organized to give consumers access to the products as well as the process. Combined with the adventure of traveling to various locations and meeting the folks who practice the demanding art of maple sugaring, the tour will showcase one of the region’s tastiest resources.

Coordinated by the Wayne Conservation District in partnership with the Wayne County Cooperative Extension and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Maple Producers Association, the tour will feature eight stops in Wayne County, as well as one in Susquehanna County and one in Lackawanna County.

Today, Wayne County is home to 30 maple producers and Pennsylvania ranks seventh nationally in maple syrup production. Over 95,000 gallons of maple syrup are produced annually in the state and, in 2008, sales of PA maple products exceeded $3 million. A single gallon of finished syrup requires approximately 40 gallons of sap.

The free PA maple tour is scheduled for March 20 and 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants should dress appropriately, as conditions may be wet or muddy. Visit www.wayneconservation.org for more information, including the map and directions, or contact Paul Reining at preining@co.wayne.pa.us or 570/253-0930. Maps are also available at Agway stores in Honesdale, Lake Ariel and Greentown, PA. A week later, a sugarhouse tour in the Neversink, NY area will transpire. See below for details.

Neversink Sugarhouse Tour and Poker Run

This maple syrup event is planned in New York on March 27 from noon to 6:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy light refreshments at the first stop, then follow wooden maple leaves and arrows made by the shop class at Tri-Valley School to four more sugarhouses where they will pick up cards that serve as their stud poker hand. The day will conclude with a celebration at the final stop, featuring live music by Stacy and Friends: A Musician’s Gathering and catering by Mr. Willie’s. Prizes will be awarded to those holding the best hands and raffles will also be conducted. Anyone with a pair or better will receive a half pint of maple syrup. Prizes include rafting trips, a golf package, overnight stays, tickets to theater and musical events, snowshoes, gift certificates, subscriptions and more. A ticket fee of $20 will benefit Community Unity, which brings together the work of the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, the Recovery Center, RISE (Rape Intervention Services and Education) and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). One ticket covers an individual, couple or family. For more information, contact Claire Sullivan at 845/557-3642.