One of the state’s iconic events, next week’s New Hampshire Maple Weekend, is still scheduled despite the COVID-19 outbreak, although there may be some changes.
“We have no plans for canceling, although if the state does recommend that we cancel we will abide by that,” said Nick Kosko, former president of the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association. “As of right now it’s still going to be business as usual, with smart precautions”
“It’s mostly an outdoor event, we’re going to send an email to our members about safe handling practices. We’re going to recommend, for example, that they don’t do samples.”
The weekend, slated for March 21 and 22, will be the 25th year of organized visits to scores of sugar houses around the state.
Kosko emphasized that individual sugar houses could decide for themselves, saying a couple had already decided not to open. He encouraged people to call ahead next weekend before heading out.
One place that has canceled its Maple weekend plans is Canterbury Shaker Village, which announced Friday afternoon that the Canterbury Maple Festival on March 21-22 would not be held.
The statewide weekend has grown in popularity, as reflected at Maple Ridge Sugar House in Loudon, which has participated for at least eight years.
“The first year we had 200 people. Now we see between 6,000 and 8,000 in two days,” said Pat Colby, Maple Ridge owner. Their weekend includes food trucks, farmer’s market and a touch-a-truck.
Colby, who was in the process of disinfecting the evaporator room when interviewed, said he planned to go forward although with some adjustments, such as changing how and whether they provide samples.
Maple syrup is a huge part of New Hampshire’s tourism industry, as indicated by the growing importance of Maple Weekend, now part of an entire month of events.
However, making maple syrup is a relatively small industry in New Hampshire. The state produced 148,000 gallons of syrup last year, worth less than $9 million. Vermont, the nation’s syrup leader, produced more than 2 million gallons, while the Canadian province of Quebec produced more than 10 times as much as Vermont.
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
