Ontario’s maple syrup industry is resilient, with improvements in technology and marketing, but isn’t exempt by impacts from tariffs or Mother Nature
Tag Archives maple syrup
Sticky business
Ontario maple syrup producers continue tradition in face of many challenges
Ontario’s maple syrup sector sees sweet growth potential
With the right funding, the sector challenge production in Quebec
Ontario’s maple syrup industry has untapped potential and renewed hope for expansion through a recent funding program. Randal Goodfellow, Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association president, said the Maple Production Improvement Initiative is the first industry-specific program with $1 million available for projects up to $20,000 with 50 per cent cost-sharing. Why it matters: Ontario dropped […] Read more
FCC offers new credit line against ‘current economic environment’
Ag lender to waive loan processing fees
Farm Credit Canada’s recent outreach to specific agrifood sectors hit by unusual environmental conditions has now extended to those hit by the broader “economic environment.” The federal ag lender on Tuesday said it will offer an unsecured credit line of up to $500,000 with loan processing fees waived, “to help producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations […] Read more
A bitter sweet surprise: Sugarbush season starts early
Reports indicate quality syrup resulting from rare February start
A string of mild early-February weather created an early — and in some cases bountiful — harvest for syrup producers in Ontario’s southwest. But while some producers welcomed the season’s early arrival, the chair of the Climate Change Working Group of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association sees ominous signs of what’s to come from […] Read more
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 but, according to company CEO Chad Jakeman, the ability to think outside the box helped the business weather the COVID-19 storm. Jakeman’s, which has been […] Read more
Top court affirms hefty fine for man behind Quebec maple syrup heist
Back to prison if fine not paid in 10 years
Reuters — The man behind a decade-old maple syrup heist in Quebec will have to pay a $9 million fine, Canada’s top court said on Thursday, upholding an earlier ruling by a lower court. A group of people in Quebec siphoned off maple syrup worth over $18 million from a reservoir and replaced it with […] Read more
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 worrying whether they’ll be able to take advantage of that demand. “Most syrup producers are finding ways for people to purchase their syrup safely,” said […] Read more
Grain, seed corn growers get access to seasonal worker program
Maple syrup also added to national commodity list
Growers of grains, oilseeds and seed corn and maple syrup producers may be able to get in on the federal Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) for the 2021 season. Federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough announced Nov. 27 the national commodity list (NCL) would be expanded to include seed corn, oil seed, grains and maple syrup […] Read more
Great maple syrup year overshadowed by coronavirus chaos
Closure of on-farm tours means syrup producers have to get creative
Earl Stanley, owner of Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm in Edwards, Ont., says 2020 was looking to be a great year for his business as the first two weekends of March brought larger-than-normal crowds for the farm’s pancake breakfasts. Syrup production in 2020 was also looking good across the province with sap in good quantity, high […] Read more
New federal standard to expand beer ingredient options
More variety in allowable ingredients and more requirements for declarations are now part of the federal rules on what can be called beer in Canada. The federal government on May 1 announced “modernized” beer standards under Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) — the rules laying out the requirements to be met by a product […] Read more