Chris White and Ralph Van Derwal, owners of Silver Creek Maple Syrup. Credit: Hannah Theodore
The end of winter is maple syrup season. Temperatures reach the perfect conditions for producing this sweet delicacy and local farmers are holding out for the final days of the season.
While most of Canada’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec, local farmers are making a name for themselves right here in Southern Ontario.
Chris White and Ralph Van Derwal run Silver Creek Maple Syrup together in Lucan, Ontario. Van Derwal said this season was tough at first, but eventually temperatures got low enough to make top notch maple syrup. Ideally, weather has to reach below freezing overnight to get the sap where it needs to be.
“It’s been a little challenging,” said Van Derwal. “We’ve had a bit of warm spell here in Lucan. As it gets warmer, the syrup gets darker. So we’ve had more darker syrup than we would prefer.”
As temperatures rise over the next few days, it’s possible maple syrup season could be coming to an end before March is out. Once the maple trees start budding, the trees are done for the season.
White has been producing maple syrup for over forty years, with Van Derwal joining the team just five years ago.
“Chris was at a little organic farm and started out with fifty taps on his own…and by the third year we were doing about 1100 taps!” said Van Derwal.
Ven Derwal has learned the ropes of production from White, and has now helped take the business of Silver Creek across Ontario, from small providers in London to markets in Toronto.
The farm now has over 3500 trees with over 6000ft of tubing collecting sap. The tubing method is a faster and more efficient way to collecting sap than the traditional pail method.
For both White and Van Derwal, the time spent producing maple syrup has been a welcome escape from COVID-19.
“It’s been my sanctuary going back to the bush,” said Van Derwal. “You’re one with nature and it’s so cool.”
It’s a labour of love for White as well, who never expected the business to grow as much as it did.
“It’s kind of in my blood, just to do it without having a specific goal,” said White. “That’s where Ralph has been a big help. I just feel like it’s something that should be done and has to be done.”
White and Van Derwal both agree that their syrup is some of the best out there, and Van Derwal said he’d put up against any other local providers.
“We have three other major producers not too far away, and they do a great job. But our syrup is just as good, if not better,” he said.
Regardless, White said you can’t really go wrong.
“No matter what, maple syrup is good,” said White.
Interest in locally sourced products has only been growing in recent years, and maple syrup is no exception. Find Silver Creek Maple Syrup Farm in Lucan, ON or look for their label on the next bottle of maple syrup you buy.
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