NORTH PERTH – The Waterloo-Wellington Local of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association (OMSPA) held the First Tapping Ceremony of the 2022 season at Hoover’s Maple Syrup, just south of Listowel on Feb. 25.
There were approximately 50 people in attendance, and the day started off quite blustery with a weather advisory in effect, but it cleared up nicely by the time guests began to arrive around 11 a.m.
John Nater, MP Perth-Wellington, Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington, North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg, Lisa Schaefer of the Listowel BIA, and Ashley Brockelbank, tourism officer of the County of Perth were amongst those in attendance and spoke about the maple industry and its economic impact in this region.
After the speeches, everyone went outside to do the ceremonial tapping. Nater drilled the hole, Pettapiece tapped in the spile and Kasenberg hung the bucket. It was a joint effort – who said three different levels of government can’t get along!
After the formal part of the first tapping ceremony, everyone reconvened back into the ‘sap shack’ and enjoyed homemade apple crisp made with maple sugar, ice cream and a drizzle of Hoover’s certified organic maple syrup to finish it off.
Owner Terry Hoover gave a tour of the production facility, including the tubing system used to collect the sap. Hoover’s has 2,400 taps in their 50-acre bush, and all sap comes up 1,500 feet underground into the shack, nine feet underground.
March is Maple Month. To celebrate all that is maple, the Hoover’s are hosting weekend tours through the month of March and most of April, so be sure to check out their website www.hooversmaplesyrup.com to reserve your tour time slot. Also, don’t forget Maple Weekend which is the first weekend in April – more information is on the website.
The Hoovers would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved, including members of the Waterloo-Wellington Local. Many hands make light work. They especially appreciate the support they receive from the community and enjoy sharing their love of everything maple.
