Rising international demand for maple syrup and a drop in production last year have created a global shortage 鈥� but Quebec鈥檚 strategic reserve is ready to hold the line.
The organization governing Quebec鈥檚 maple syrup producers will release onto the market 50 million pounds of maple syrup 鈥� worth about $150 million 鈥� by February, H茅l猫ne Normandin, the group鈥檚 spokeswoman, said in an interview Monday. The reserve can hold up to 100 million pounds of maple syrup, she added.
鈥淚f we didn鈥檛 have a reserve, we would be in trouble,鈥� Normandin, with Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, said. 鈥淏ut the reserve is exactly for this.鈥�
Demand for maple syrup this year is outstripping supply, she explained.
Canadian maple syrup exports 鈥� most of which come from Quebec 鈥� have risen 21 per cent since January 2020, Normandin said, adding that last year鈥檚 warm winter resulted in the production of about 133 million pounds of syrup, down 40 million pounds compared with the prior year.
鈥淲e work with Mother Nature,鈥� Normandin said. 鈥淲e know it鈥檚 normal that not all production years are the same.鈥�
She said a big reason why demand has increased is due to the fact the United States doesn鈥檛 have its own syrup reserve. 鈥淭hey sold all of their maple syrup produced in 2021, so they are digging into our supply even more,鈥� she said.
Normandin said people shouldn鈥檛 worry because her organization created the strategic reserve specifically to address shortages.
鈥淭he reserve was put in place by producers in 2000 to address situations of high demand or low production,鈥� Normandin said. 鈥淎nd this year, it won鈥檛 only be the annual production that will meet the needs, but the fact that we have that reserve.鈥�
Quebec produces nearly three-quarters of the global maple syrup supply and exports the product to more than 60 countries. Normandin said that to avoid future shortages, an extra seven million trees over the next three years will be added to the 50 million that are tapped annually in the province.
鈥淢aybe we鈥檒l add even more (trees) 鈥� there鈥檚 still some room if everybody starts to consume maple syrup around the world!鈥�
鈥擵irginie Ann, The Canadian Press
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