What’s in Season

Some products at the Cambridge Farmers' Market are only available during certain seasons because different crops grow at different times of the year. Below is a list of what's in season each month. Please note these are approximate dates and may vary according to local weather. 

Be sure to check out our Recipe Book for different ways to use fresh ingredients in your meals!

What's In Season in February

Let's talk about a Canadian classic, Maple Syrup! The basic ingredient in maple syrup is the sap of a sugar maple or various other species of maple trees. It consists primarily of sucrose and water.

What to look for when Buying or picking:

Check to see that you are buying real maple syrup. There are a lot of other types of syrup on the market.  The colour of syrup determines how strong it is so  keep that in mind when you are deciding which one to buy. Glass bottles will keep the syrup fresh for longer than plastic.

Colour Matters

Golden Syrup

The golden shade carries a delicate taste.  It is light and ideal for topping deserts and pancakes.  Golden Syrup is also known as Grade A Light Amber or Grade A Fancy.

Amber Syrup

Stronger than Golden, Amber Syrup is good for baked good when you want a subtitle, yet present taste.  This syrup is also good on pancakes, though it will provide a more powerful flavour than golden syrup. Also known as Grade A Medium Amber.

Dark Amber Syrup

Dark syrups carry a very strong maple flavour that can be overpowering to other flavours in a dish. It carries a very robust flavour and is best used when maple is the main flavour in a recipe. Dark syrup is also good for
flavouring meat such as bacon.  Also known as Grade A Dark Amber or Grade B Syrup.

Maple Sugar

Maple Sugar is also made from the sap of the maple tree. It has all the flavour of the syrup but can be used as a dry ingredient in baked goods but it is also used as a sweetener and to make
candy. Soft maple and hard maple candies are commonly made with Maple Sugar.

Fun Facts on Maple Syrup

• There’s an International Maple Syrup Institute. Founded in 1975, the organization works “to promote and protect pure maple syrup and other maple syrup products.” The IMSI is working to develop universal standards for syrup quality and consistency.

• $18 Million worth was stolen from Quebec. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers keeps a stockpile of maple syrup that is dipped into and redistributed during lean production years. In 2012, thieves invaded the federation's primary warehouse and lifted 6 million pounds of the sweet stuff, making it one of the largest agricultural thefts ever perpetrated.

• Today, About 80 percent of the World’s Supply Comes From Canada.

Feature Recipe

Maple, Mustard and Riesling Roast

Learn about the benefits of buying local.