Winter 2024 was one to forget for most of Quebec's winter traditions. El Niño’s heat brought an premature end to winter, but an unusual start to the maple syrup season in Quebec, with producers in the southern half of the province starting around 2 weeks earlier than expected.
Photograph: Sucrerie de la Montagne
“We didn’t know what it would be like,” said Pierre Faucher of Sucrerie de la Montagne in Rigaud back in February. Pointing to the date “29/02/24” marked into the wall, Faucher said “it’s a secret until it happens.”
That date marked the first boiling day of the year, and above that one was a line of dates all from the beginning to late March. Sporting his iconic plaid shirt and big white beard, Faucher explained that this was the earliest start to the season he had ever seen in all of his 46 years in the business.
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