Maple syrup requires a very specific set of weather events in order to keep the sweetness flowing. Weeks of below-freezing temperatures, when the sap is frozen in the branches, followed by a warming trend when the sweet treat flows down the trunk of the trees where it can be tapped, are essential.

from Treehugger:

..."climate change is likely to cause long-term shifts in forest species, such as sugar maples moving north out of the country."

 

Migration of tree species is nothing new, and occurred as a natural response to gradual changes in climate in the past. But in this case, it seems to be accelerating at an unprecedented rate. According to research by UVM ecologist Brian Beckage, tree species have shifted more than 90 meters up the slopes of the Green Mountains since 1964, following the movement of cooler climates.

 

What it means is that the migration and disappearance of the sugar maple out of the Northeast U.S. may be ultimately inevitable.

 

On a personal note, I grew up in the Northeast and maple syrup harvesting is not only a multi-million dollar industry, it's a way of life. Parents and kids who revel in this yearly ritual will have a hard time finding something equally fun, educational, and tasty with which to replace this winter activity.