Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – As Central New York transitions into the spring, it’s safe to say that the winter season was once again soft. Due to how little cold weather there was, maple syrup production took a big hit, as the manufacturing of these products slowed down significantly.
The warmer the weather is, the more bitter the sap will be when collecting it from trees. This causes the syrup to not be quality enough to put out in stores, and maple syrup producers could be hurting from this financially.
Customers who purchase maple syrup often are worried about the production regressing because of the mild winter. Syracuse resident Jared Marcus hopes producers can find a way to combat these problems and remain efficient.
“I think it would be a shame if production of maple syrup went down,” Marcus said. “I, like a lot of people, use it for, you know, a variety of breakfast options.”
Not only have the customers been affected from the slow process, but it’s taken a tole on the maple syrup farmers and companies. CNY Maple president Dave Klish stressed about the problems his business has faced.
“We only ended up with about 80% of a typical crop,” Klish said. “That’s because there were fewer freeze-slosh cycles.”
If these quiet winters become a trend moving forward, then syrup crops could be in serious jeopardy. Not only is this bad for Central New York, but it’s a potential problem for other states around the world as well.
