Maple Sugar Season: Greater Moncton Maple Syrup Destinations and Events 2010

by Heather Ferguson

For residents of the Greater Moncton Area, springtime means the sweet taste of maple sugar products. Fresh candy, maple butter, maple syrup smothered pancakes, and smooth maple cream beckon to the sweet tooth in us all.

Local farmers markets feature area producers of maple products each week

Maple Syrup Pancake The Trites Family Sugar Bush and Pancake House has a kiosk available all year round at the Marché Moncton Market. The location at 326 Briggs Cross Road in Stilesville, just off the Gorge Road, is open each spring to family outings, church tours and school groups. Drop by and experience firsthand the tapping of maple trees and the full production of syrup and other maple products. Be sure to visit their Maple Syrup Taffy on the Snow Pancake House this spring and sample a tempting variety of pancakes all smothered in fresh maple syrup. Got a special order? Call ahead at 384-4850.

Briggs Maples of 391 Coverdale Road, Riverview can be found at their booth at the Marché Dieppe Market on Saturdays where they showcase fresh bottled syrup, maple butter, candy, jellies, and a host of other wonderful items. Guided tours of their premises are welcomed but call ahead for reservations at (506) 382-3380. Be sure to also visit their website at www.briggsmaples.com for more information on Briggs Maples, Riverview.

Sugar Hill Maples of Berry Mills has one of the loveliest displays at the Marché Moncton Market! They process maple syrup from local sources into many products including candy, butter, cream, and sugar all attractively packaged for gift-giving. Their gift baskets are a wonderful treat for any occasion. Drop by and visit them or call for special orders at 854-0999.

Magnetic Hill Winery at 860 Front Mapleton Road also carries maple syrup and processes and sells maple products from local sources at both their onsite gift shop and at their booth at the Marché Moncton Market. Owned and operated by Jeff and Janet Everett, the Magnetic Hill Winery is a great place to visit. Drop by and enjoy the products of New Brunswick available at their wonderful site and enjoy the beautiful scenery too! Got an inquiries? Call (506) 384-7627.

James Martin, also known as The Candy Man, and his wife, Brenda, were both born into families who traditionally tapped maple sap in the springtime. Expert at processing fresh sap tapped by local suppliers, James and Brenda’s outlet at Martin’s Candy Shack at 29 Gowland Mountain Road in Elgin, NB, contains some of the finest local product. Hard candy, maple butter, maple taffy, 1 oz and 2 oz maple leaves, cones, cream, and granulated sugar are all included in their inventory which they also share with market-goers at the Marché Moncton Market on Saturdays. James and Brenda also create special pieces for weddings. Call them at 756-2369 for further inquiries and visit the Farmers Market Report for a feature on Martin’s Candy Shack for more information.

Other important sugar camps in the region

The City of Moncton Sugar Camp - located in the Turtle Creek Watershed: Come and experience our 'Pails to Pipeline Tours' offered daily from early March to mid April.

Renton Brothers Sugar Camp in Stilesville. Here, products are sold onsite only. Crown Maple products at Church’s Corner is run by Ralph Barker and his wife, Dale, and Pleasantvale Maple Products of Parkindale is owned by Gary Steeves.

Almost every grocery store carries local maple products

Sobey’s carries maple syrup from L. C. Stiles of Riverview, and from Sugar Shack Maple Products, Ltd. who also supply Co-op stores and corner stores in both Shediac and the Greater Moncton Area. Irving Convenience Stores stock items by Rocky Mountain Maple, and the Corn Crib has local offerings from Vaughn Jones of Riverview.

The gift shops of the Salisbury Big Stop and the Hotel Beausejour both have gift items in maple products to tempt travellers to our region.

The Town of Sackville stocks maple products at the Cackling Goose Health Food Store and at Mel’s Tearoom on Bridge Street. Sackville’s Farmers Market, which takes place at the Bridge Street Café each Saturday, carries on the tradition of providing an outlet for local entrepreneurs to ply their trade.

The Town of Salisbury is home to the Kelly family’s own maple enterprise, located at Kelly’s Sugar Bush, 3184 Main Street in Salisbury. Call them at 372-9618 for a complete list of their inventory.

Events for maple season in and around the Greater Moncton Area

The Town of Riverview Sugar Camp Trip will take place on March 27 and 28, from 9 am to 4 pm. This promises to be a day of relaxation and fun with lots of sweet treats!

Trites Family Sugar Bush will have a "Maple Syrup Taffy on the Snow" Tour and Pancake Brunch which usually takes place from March 21 to April 20. Open from 9 am to 3 pm, be sure to stop in for a unique experience or call ahead for reservations. The Eco Elgin Centre will have a pancake breakfast with fresh maple products at the end of March. Stop by and experience a “Sugar-off” in snow!