The reputation of Quebec’s maple syrup is second to none, so much so that the province has its own strategic reserve of blond gold. We explain why millions of pounds of syrup are stored in a safe place and how this reserve works.
• Read also: BIXIs available from Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
The strategic reserve as we know it was set up in 2000. Already in 1986, maple syrup producers had nevertheless set up a maple syrup bank, says Pierre Rhéaume, acting director of communications for Les Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Quebec (PPAQ).
The reason is very simple: since the regions of Quebec do not thaw at the same time, producers located further east cut later than those in the greater Montreal area. Eastern maple syrup producers “were late to the market and were stuck with their maple syrup,” says Pierre Rhéaume.
• Read also: Snowstorm: Major blizzard hits the Prairies
Today, when production is greater than demand, maple syrup producers place their surpluses in the strategic reserve located in Laurierville, in the Centre-du-Québec region. It is only when the reserve has to be dipped that the producers are paid.
Respond to the request
As the harvest depends almost entirely on the temperature, the strategic reserve aims to alleviate supply problems during a less good year – as was the case in 2021, with 133 million pounds harvested -, by more to stabilize the price of the product.
And with a 20% jump in demand in two years, syrup is needed to satisfy all markets. Quebec ranks first among maple producers in the world, accounting for approximately 72% of world production and 92% of Canadian production.
“We cannot promote on a European market, for example, and not have stocks to supply them,” explains Pierre Rhéaume. In addition to an international increase, he assumes that the pandemic has forced people to cook more and, therefore, to consume more maple syrup.
• Read also: First species extinct due to global warming
But well before the pandemic, consumption of blond gold by Quebecers jumped 81% between 2016 and 2020, to 3.2 pounds per person per year, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ).
In an ideal world, the reserve contains up to 100 million pounds of maple syrup. However, the PPAQ do not set a maximum or minimum quantity, says Pierre Rhéaume. But a mild spring last year forced maple producers to dip into the reserve, which melted to 36 million pounds, the lowest level since 2008.
“A very good harvest” this year
Fortunately, Mother Nature has kept Quebec in her good graces this year. Until now, the maple syrup producers have had “a very good harvest” which will make it possible to replenish the coffers of the reserve, indicates Pierre Rhéaume. It is estimated that production will be equivalent to the average, ie 150 million pounds.
“If it continues like this, we will be able to fill the reserve, but not at the level where it was. It will take three to five years to bring it up to standard,” he adds.
Photo Quebec maple syrup producers
To achieve this, the PPAQ authorized seven million additional taps. By 2023, Quebec will pass the milestone of 57 million taps, which could yield up to 185 million pounds of maple syrup per year.
All this future production therefore encourages the PPAQ to build a second warehouse for their strategic reserve, not far from the current storage space.