April 29, 2023 @ 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This first annual horse and livestock tack sale will feature a variety of vendors.
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April 20, 2023 @ 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
During New England Kelp Harvest Week, the region’s sugar kelp producers partner with restaurants and chefs to feature amazing culinary creations. Visit the web site for a full list of participating restaurants and places to buy kelp.
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March 25, 2023 @ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
This expo includes educational and informational seminars and discussions surrounding cannabis advocacy, research, education and awareness, the political landscape and more. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about the production of marijuana, cannabis, hemp and CBD goods.
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Late winter is a time when you might notice metal buckets on trees and smoke billowing from rural sugarhouses — sure signs that sugaring season has returned to Connecticut.
The Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut holds an annual celebration of sugaring season with Maple Weekend, which occurs this year on March 18th and 19th. There are 19 farms and sugarhouses participating in the occasion as well as three festivals taking place across the state.
Maple Weekend gives you a chance to tour a sugarhouse, sample a variety of maple products, and learn more about how maple syrup is produced in Connecticut.
Connecticut maple syrup
There are almost 200 farms producing more than 17,000 gallons of syrup a year in Connecticut, according to the USDA’s latest data. Connecticut ranks 10th among all maple producing states, and sugaring is generally not a full-time profession here. Many CT Grown farmers produce maple syrup to make the best use of their land and to supplement their income during the winter.
Connecticut maple syrup can be readily found at farmers’ markets, retail stores, and other local venues, including some grocery stores. Many of Connecticut’s sugarhouses are open to the public during the late winter, inviting people to learn more about how maple sap is converted to syrup and to purchase the maple products available for sale.
The maple syrup production process is accessible enough for hobbyists to try it on their own. The Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut includes not only farms and sugarhouses, but also individuals and community organizations. With the purchase of some affordable equipment, anyone can tap maple trees on their property and try their hand at the sugaring process.
Choosing the right maple syrup color
Maple syrup used to come in separate grades, but this system was changed in 2015 to keep consumers from mistakenly believing that Grade A syrup was of higher quality than the darker B and C grades. While all syrup is now listed as Grade A, it still comes in four distinct colors: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark.
Lighter syrups come from earlier in the sugaring season and have a milder flavor. This makes them ideal for pairing with traditional breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles, pouring on ice cream, or adding flavor to beverages like coffee or cocktails.
Darker syrups indicate that the sap was collected later in the season and has a more robust and intense flavor. These varieties are best used for cooking, baking, or creating glazes.
More than just syrup
Maple syrup is the primary product created from maple sap, but there are numerous other items maple producers put out each harvest season. Some of the most popular are granulated maple sugar, maple cream, and maple candy, a simple mixture of syrup and butter which is then molded into a variety of shapes.
Maple producers also frequently partner with other farmers in Connecticut to create tasty and unique CT Grown foods. These include maple-flavored milk, yogurt, and jams and jellies.
When is sugaring season in Connecticut?
Sugaring season traditionally takes place from early February through late March. This time of year tends to include a mixture of warmer days and freezing nights, and this freeze-thaw cycle is just what is needed to get the sap flowing in maple trees.
Producers make advance preparations for the sugaring season, such as deciding which maple trees to tap and collecting firewood for the sugarhouse, but the season itself only lasts about six to eight weeks. Trees are tapped using metal spouts called spiles, which allow sap to flow into covered metal buckets or through tubing to a holding tank.
After sap is collected, it is boiled to evaporate the water and increase the sugar content. The syrup is then filtered, graded, and bottled.
It’s the perfect time to pick up CT Grown maple syrup, so check out what’s at your local store or farmers’ market and mark your calendar for Maple Weekend!
March 16, 2023 @ 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
The UConn Cannabis Symposium will be a premiere event for students, scientists, educators, and members of the cannabis industry to network and share information in the emerging cannabis field. Expert speakers cover topics related to cannabis such as: plant production, biochemistry and genetics, clinical impacts, law and policy, and the future of the industry.
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March 5, 2023 @ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Features more than 35 regional vendors with a variety of locally produced products. Donations are accepted for a scholarship raffle. Snow date is March 12.
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March 22, 2023 @ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Ag Day celebrates the diversity and success of Connecticut’s agriculture, featuring farmers, agricultural non-profits, producer associations, cooperatives, federal and state agricultural agencies, and Connecticut municipalities throughout the Capitol. The occasion allows farmers and other visitors to meet with their state legislators, sample CT Grown goods, and see the presentation of the Outstanding Young Farmer, Century Farm, and Ag Journalism awards.
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April 29, 2023 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
As part of the University of Connecticut Extension’s CT Soil Health Initiative with USDA NRCS, the Spring Urban Agriculture Tour will be hosted at the Green Village Initiative’s Reservoir Community Farm. Learn more about urban farming methods that have proven successful as well as funding opportunities for infrastructure such as high tunnels, raised beds, irrigation systems, and other conservation practices.
Soil testing will be available at the event for attendees to test their soil for heavy metals.
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Winter is the best time to start planning the next season for your garden, but time is quickly running out! Whether you’re starting a new home garden or reviving an existing one, these steps will help ensure a productive spring.
Helpful Resources
- Find your USDA Hardiness Zone
- Get your soil tested at the University of Connecticut’s Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
- Check the CT Grown crop calendar
- Follow the Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association
March 2, 2023 @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The event will include an exhibition of low and no-till farm equipment, methods and results for all scales of farming. Workshops will cover best methods for no-till seeding, crimping, etc., along with cover crop implementation for soil health improvement. The day will include farmer-to-farmer sharing of ‘best practices’, so farmers can exchange information on soil health methods that have worked on their farm.