A maple expert from Quebec is assisting a Summerland maple producer in finding trees to tap for syrup.
Denis Fontaine, who creates maple products near Quebec City, was in Summerland last week to assist Roch Fortin of Maple Roch in finding suitable trees.
Fortin is looking for 100 to 150 maple trees to tap for this coming season.
Fontaine said 100 trees would produce 60 to 90 litres of maple syrup.
He said the trees and the terroir both contribute to the flavour and character of the maple sypup
In late February and early March, Maple Roch tapped 15 trees in Summerland, to determine if the trees here can be used for maple syrup production. At the time, Fortin said 100 trees would be enough for a commercial venture in the community.
On Friday, Fortin and Fontaine visited some of the same sites to examine the trees and to determine the value of the trees for maple syrup production.
At present, maple syrup is produced in Eastern Canada, primarily Quebec and New Brunswick, as well as in parts of the northeastern United States.
