Evaporator technology has developed beyond the traditional wood-furnace evaporators, seen here, allowing producers to more effectively and efficiently process sap into maple syrup.

Sticky business

Ontario maple syrup producers continue tradition in face of many challenges

Ontario’s maple syrup industry is resilient, with improvements in technology and marketing, but isn’t exempt by impacts from tariffs or Mother Nature




Jakeman’s is the province’s largest maple syrup packer. It opened a new bottling facility in 2020 with certifications allowing it to provide private-label maple products to retailers around the world, and made further expansions earlier this year.

Jakeman’s expands processing capacity

Woodstock-area facility brings in syrup from across the province

Transformation was underway for the nearly 150-year-old, family-owned Jakeman’s maple syrup business near Woodstock in the months before the pandemic. The resulting turmoil could have damaged a less resilient operation […] Read more



The early Ontario maple syrup run was strong, but length of the season is a concern.

Warm weather could shorten 2021 syrup season

Demand for syrup has increased during the pandemic, as it has for many local foods

Overall maple syrup use is up in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic, but restrictions on gatherings and a string of early-season warm days and nights have producers across the province […] Read more