OXFORD – Roger Jackson has been making maple syrup on and off since he was 6, along with his father and his grandfather. It was the family’s sugar substitute during World War II. But just five years ago, his syrup-making skills were on the shelf.

Now the shelves are lined with bottles of home-made maple syrup. Jackson and his family are back in the business. And like dozens of producers across the state, they’ll open their operation Sunday to the scrutiny of public tastebuds for Maine Maple Sunday.

The event is in its 20th year. Visitors to area sugar houses can often see syrup made as well as sample the results on pancakes or ice cream.

Jackson had pretty much given up tapping trees, boiling sap and the rest until his granddaughter said the magic words: “Papa, I want you to make me some syrup.”

She must have heard about it in kindergarten, he figures. Anyway, that was the turning point. “She got me boiling, and I started smelling the syrup, and said, ‘Oh, boy, I’ve got to get back into that.'”

He’s back, with help from his younger brother, Caldwell, his daughter, his wife and the whole family. They’re running about 600 taps on 300 trees and this year graduated to a professional evaporator. He’s hoping to produce between 70 and 100 gallons of syrup.

They might even make some money at this in a couple of years, he said.

Until then, there’s the sweet smell of the sap and the smiling faces of his customers.

Here are some of the places to be on Maple Sugar Sunday:

Franklin County
Bowley Brook Maple Syrup

Weld

585-2420

Sample maple syrup on ice cream, and other maple goodies.

107 Cushman Road; 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Hall Farms Maple Products

East Dixfield

645-2862; 888-645-4367; [email protected]; www.hallfarms.com

Maple cotton candy and other maple goodies. Open dairy barn with calves. Free horse-drawn hay rides (weather permitting). Pancake breakfast for a fee.

U.S. Route 2; 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Jackson Mountain Farm

Temple

778-5023; [email protected]

Maple syrup on ice cream and other treats. Demonstration of syrup-making process.

Orchard Hill Road – Turn left at general store, go 1 mile. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Maple Hill Farm

Farmington

778-4506; [email protected]

Sample maple syrup. Sugarbush tours. Demonstration of syrup-making process. Ice cream, coffee, and doughnuts. Baked beans made with maple syrup.

Titcomb Hill Road; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Maple Valley Farms Inc.

Jay

645-9549; [email protected]

Baked beans, hot dogs and rolls, pancakes, ice cream with syrup and taffy on snow. Cost for meal: $5 adults, $2 children.

1304 Franklin Road; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

River Run Farm Maple Products

Strong

684-4733; [email protected]

Sample maple syrup over ice cream. Demonstration of syrup-making process. Farm tours. See beef cattle, calves, sheep and lambs.

968 South Strong Road; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sweet Maple Farm

Wilton

645-4596; [email protected]; www.sweetmaplefarm.com

Maple syrup on ice cream, maple syrup for sale, and antique (1940) Allis Chalmers tractor on display.

Rte 156 towards Mount Blue State Park, about 1 miles from town; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; handicapped accessible

The Chinook Trading Post

New Sharon

778-4318; [email protected]; www.chinooktradingpost.com

Maple syrup for sale. Sugarhouse open for tours and will be working if conditions permit.

On Rte 134, 4 miles North of US Rte 2; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Source: mainefoodandfarms.com