Canada Taps Strategic Stockpile Of Maple Syrup Amid Shortage

You know things are bad when Canada has to tap into its strategic reserve of maple syrup to combat a shortage.

NPR reported that Canada’s Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) announced it was releasing around 50 million pounds of maple syrup from its strategic reserves, which amounts to about half of its stockpile. QSMP is comprised of more than 11,000 Canadian maple syrup producers.

From NPR:

Quebec produces nearly 70% of the world’s maple syrup, with the US being its biggest client for the sweet stuff. However, this year producers weren’t able to keep up with worldwide demand, which jumped 21%, according to Bloomberg.

Maple syrup is made from the sap from maple trees, which is traditionally harvested by installing a metal tap into the tree’s trunk. Modern sap harvesting typically involves a system of plastic tubing and vacuums to collect the sap from multiple trees to a central location where it can be refined into syrup.

This is a seasonal process though, as maple sap can only be harvested in specific weather conditions. So, this year’s short and warm Spring resulted in an uncharacteristically low yield for producers.

Helene Normandin, QMSP’s communications director, told the outlet that the potential for unpredictable seasons is why they have a reserve. – READ MORE