King of the sugar bush

Gravenhurst man’s maple syrup takes top prize at Royal Winter Fair

GRAVENHURST - Bob Salmon has been making maple syrup for years. He never imagined his backyard hobby would one day garner him national attention.
The Gravenhurst resident was recently presented with the John David Eaton World Championship Cup for the best maple syrup at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The fair, held annually in Toronto, features agricultural products and livestock from across Canada. It is the largest indoor fair and international equestrian competition in the world, according to its website.
Salmon owns about 50 acres of land off Doe Lake Road, where he taps for sap each year.
During the 2011 competition at Exhibition Place, Salmon’s maple syrup took top prize in the extra light category. When he was stacked up against winners from two other categories, Salmon again came out on top, and was presented with the championship cup.
He said he was somewhat surprised by the results.
“We’re just a small backyard operation,” he said, noting he entered his maple syrup in the Royal Winter Fair last year, but placed fifth. “This year I got lucky, I guess.”
Salmon was competing against large operations from across Ontario, Quebec and even the U.S.
“The first thing they asked me was ‘how many taps do you use?’” he recalled. “I use 41 spiles and 41 buckets. That’s it.”
The small size of his operation could be the secret to his success. Larger producers make syrup continuously, but Salmon only uses fresh sap.
He estimates he makes just six to seven gallons each season.
“My evaporator is a stainless steel plan,” he laughed.
So where can you get a taste of the prize-winning finished product?
You may be out of luck.
“I’m not interested in selling it,” Salmon said. “It’s just for my wife and I, and some of our friends.”

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