Weather vs. Sugaring

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Created on Thursday, 27 March 2025 20:24

Written by Christy Switser

Ackermann Maple Farm is one of many Sugar Houses that are impacted by weather temperatures. 

Caitlin  Ackerman, co-owner, explained how their sugar seasons vary year to year. Last year the Ackermann Farm made around 96 hundred gallons of maple syrup produced throughout the typical season starting from January into April. In other years, they have struggled to make it to 65 hundred gallons, both seasons having 17 thousand tapped tree’s. She broke down the process of how their sugaring works with their equipment. “We start our woods work in early January, and then sap starts running February around where we can check vacuum, and then March and April is when we really start boiling”. “This is our evaporator, so we have an RO take sap from 2% RO it to 20% and finish it to 67% on the evaporator by boiling it with a wood fire, then send it through our filter press which takes out any imperfections or impurities and then put it into barrels”. They hope to make it to 72 hundred gallons, along with having good turn out of sap. Having an upcoming school event, they want people to know that whoever is interested in seeing their newly added building you just need to call and make reservations. Their store is online if folks would enjoy purchasing their products.