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U.S. NEWS Monday 12 March 2018

Maple syrup season gets early start in parts of New England

By LISA RATHKE tems that allow producers
Associated Press to take advantage of Jan-
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) uary and February thaws,
— The annual maple sea- said Gary Keough, state
son got off to another early statistician with the USDA
start with warmups in parts National Agricultural Sta-
of New England, and pro- tistics Service in Concord,
ducers are hopeful the New Hampshire.
recent cold and snow will More sugar makers are get-
extend it. ting their taps in earlier, so
Some producers in Ver- they’re ready for those ear-
mont, the country’s larg- ly sap flows, according to
est producer of maple the Vermont Maple Sugar
syrup, have been going Makers Association.
strong and producing a Producers along the coast
fair amount since about and in southern New Hamp-
mid-February, but histori- shire had early sap runs dur-
cally the season has been ing late January and early
later, said Matt Gordon, February, according to Jim
executive director of the Fadden, president of the
Vermont Maple Sugar Pro- New Hampshire Maple Pro-
ducers Association. ducers Association.
“It’s a little disturbing that In Maine, however, some
we’re starting so early. It’s syrup makers are just get- Doug Bragg of Bragg Farm Sugarhouse & Gift Shop in East Montpelier, Vt., loads firewood into an
getting to be the norm al- ting started in the northern evaporator that fuels the boiling of maple sap into syrup. Maple syrup season started early this
most,” said Doug Bragg, of part of the state. year in parts of New England. Historically the season has started later.
Bragg Family Farm Sugar- To the south, others are (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)
house & Gift Shop in East afraid the season is just “The fear is that it’s so warm soon,” said Michael Bryant, up in Newfield, in southern
Montpelier. “But the thing about over. that the season will end of Hilltop Boilers Maple Syr- Maine.q
is that when it starts early,
you know it’s going to get Fishermen of baby eels expect high price
cold again, so you almost,
so far, you get kind of two
shots at it. It’s almost like a By PATRICK WHITTLE eventually make it back Asia,” Pierce said. “With this summer. “Eel prices are
second little season,” he Associated Press to the U.S. The eels sold for Europe tightening up that going to be really high this
said while boiling sap in the ROCKPORT, Maine (AP) — about $1,300 per pound at market, and us already year. We’re having prob-
sugar house last week. Members of Maine’s baby- the docks last year, about having tightened up, it lems with the harvest of
It takes warm days and eel fishing industry are ex- on par with an ounce of should be a good year.” baby eels,” Akizaki said.
freezing nights for sap to pecting high prices for the gold, and are already one The elver fishing season be- “Serious problems with
flow in maple trees. But tiny fish this year because of the most lucrative fisher- gins March 22 and ends catching baby eels in Ja-
when temperatures get too of a shortage on the inter- ies in the country on a per- June 7. They are fished by pan.” Maine’s elver fishery
high, the season abruptly national market, and sushi pound basis. Fishermen in nets from rivers and streams must also abide by a strict
ends with the appearance lovers could end up feeling Asia are seeing a poor har- and sold to dealers in a quota system set by an in-
of buds on maple trees. the pinch. Maine is the only vest this year, and Europe- tightly regulated fishery that terstate commission. The
According to the U.S. De- U.S. state with a significant an eel fisheries are cracking uses a swipe-card system Atlantic States Marine Fish-
partment of Agriculture, fishery for baby eels, or el- down on poaching, said to deter poaching. It takes eries Commission limits the
the maple season has vers. The tiny, translucent state Rep. Jeffrey Pierce, more than 2,000 elvers to fishery to 9,688 pounds of el-
started in early January in eels are sold to Asian aqua- a Dresden Republican and make a single pound. vers per year and unveiled
the past three years in Ver- culture companies to be consultant to the elver fish- Richie Akizaki, a sushi chef new rules in February that
mont but historically has raised to maturity for use as ery. That means Maine’s at Benkay in Portland, said could increase that total
started in late February. food. They’re a key piece elvers will be in higher de- he buys his eels from a New to 11,479 pounds. But an in-
That’s largely due to tech- of the worldwide supply mand, and prices could be York distributor who has crease won’t be approved
nology such as tubing and chain for Japanese dishes higher for consumers. told him prices will likely be in time for this fishing year, if
vacuum sap collection sys- such as unagi, and some “It was just a bad year in double the normal amount it happens at all.q