Rachel Giguere of Bacon Farm Maple Products moves bottles of dark maple syrup Wednesday while working in the farm’s processing center. The Sidney business is preparing for Maine Maple Sunday. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Maple syrup business are preparing to show visitors their operation and offer products during Maine Maple Sunday this weekend.

Owners and visitors alike will be required to wear masks and stay 6 feet under Gov. Janet Mills’ restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Black Acres in Wilton will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“I’m not sure about free samples yet,” owner Russell Black said. “Traffic flow will need to be spread out. Social distancing and masks will be required.

“There will be no hay rides this year,” he said. “There will be animals in the barn to see, people will just have to walk.”

Calvin Millett empties sap into a bucket Sunday morning at his house in Hartford. He and his brother and father didn't get much and they don't see this being a good year for sap. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The season is a little late this year, more like it used to be, but the sap has been running good, he said.

Before opening the farm store, 50% of maple sales were from Maine Maple Sunday events, Black said. Now he is able to sell his syrup and other maple products throughout the year.

JB Farm in Chesterville will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“This will be our first time,” owner Tyler Jenness said. “We planned to last year, did do the fall tour. This will be our second year making syrup at this location.”

Last year, Jenness and his wife, Carrie, made 41 gallons of syrup.

“I’m thinking this year will be shorter than normal,” Tyler said. “I’m hoping it’ll stay around. We’ll get what we get.”

Long Drive Acres Maple Farm in Wilton will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“We’ll be following the CDC guidelines, trying to offer wagon rides depending on groupings,” Kristi Leavitt said. “We can’t give out samples, have anything open. We’ll be doing prepackaged items.”

Numbers will be limited in the sap house, she said.

“It’s really tough, it’s a struggle,” Leavitt said. “We don’t do a lot of sales that day, it’s more promoting our product. The October one went really well.”

COVID-19 did impact sales because some people think syrup is only sold that day, Leavitt said.

“We’re open year-round,” she said.

As of last week, the Leavitts had boiled one batch of sap, making about 25 gallons, she said. A total of 1,200 gallons of sap was collected after that, she added.

“It’s just starting to ramp up,” Leavitt said. “I expect it will be fast and furious the next couple of weeks. It’s just loosening up to run. We tapped early.”

Hall Farms in East Dixfield is doing things differently this year. From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and on April 3, contactless $10 pancake breakfasts will be served at their new sugarhouse at 5 Science Hill Road across from R.S. Osgood & Son on Route 2.

“Parking is limited so we ask that you please call ahead to reserve your pickup slot. For reservations, please call 207-645-2862 by Friday evening of the week you plan to attend breakfast,” according to the farm’s Facebook page. “For last-minute reservations on the day of, please call the sap house at (207) 562-2160.”

The farm owners said that due to COVID-19 precautions, they will not host a breakfast, but will be open for visitors and boiling demonstrations, sap permitting, at their new sugarhouse. The Schoolhouse Store will also be open for sales, according to the post.

Hall Farms will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Randall Hall said.

Luce’s Sugar House in North Anson will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Maple Valley Farm in Jay will not be open this year.

“We didn’t tap our trees this year. The time is not feasible with our other business,” owner Irene Couture said. “COVID-19 impacted our sales last year, we didn’t sell all our product. We have enough to sell this year.”

A list of possible participants is available at the Maine Maple Producers Association website directory map, but it is not complete.

Participating farms in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties

Androscoggin County

Blais Maple Syrup
44 Ledgeview Road
Greene

Jillson Farm Sugarhouse
143 Jordan Bridge Road
Sabattus

Maple Hill Enterprises
748 Newell Brook Road,
Durham

Maple Rush Sugar House
123 Webster Corner Road
Sabattus

Pep’s Pure Maple Syrup
170 Lisbon Road
Sabattus

Pineland Farms
15 Farm View Drive
New Gloucester

Ricker Hill Orchards/Maple
295 Buckfield Road
Turner

Royal River Orchards
201 Peacock Hill
New Gloucester

Slattery’s Sugar House
Junction Route 119 and Route 124
West Minot

Franklin County

JB Farm
140 Stinchfield Hill Road
Chesterville

Long Drive Acres Maple Farm
319 Temple Road
Wilton

Shady Lane Sugar Shack
108 Brahmer Road
New Vineyard

Oxford County

A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm
106 Black Mountain Road,
Sumner

Colonial Hill Farm
201 Mill Hill Road
Waterford

Dunham Farm – Velvet Hollow Sugar Works
29 Dunham road
Greenwood

Gray Farm Maple LLC
30 Hilton Road
Denmark

Hall Farms Maple Products
P.O. Box 72
East Dixfield

Road’s End Farm
358 Canton Mountain Road
Canton

Rocky M Farm
431 Colcord Pond Road
Porter

Sap Hound Maple Company
414 Center Conway Road
Brownfield

Swain Family Farm
185 West Bethel Road
Bethel

The Farm at Rowe Hill
231 Rowe Hill Road
Greenwood