Final results: Average maple syrup harvest for the 2012 season

LONGUEUIL, QC, June 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - With an early and very hot spring, all signs pointed to a rather poor maple syrup harvest in 2012. But the cool beginning to April normalized regular sap flows throughout the eastern province resulting in a bountiful harvest in those regions. According to official data confirmed by the Table filière acéricole du Québec, the Quebec maple syrup crop for 2012 is regarded as average. The 42.8 million taps managed by Quebec's 7,400 maple businesses yielded a total volume of 96.1 million pounds of sap, slightly less than the exceptional and historic crop of 2009, which reached 109.4 million pounds. The production average in 2012 has been calculated at 2.24 pounds per tap, coming in above the 15-year average of 2.20 pounds per tap.

"What's special about this year? An early and brief sugaring season throughout the southern parts of the province. As well, maple syrup tends to be slightly darker due to the high temperatures," points out Serge Beaulieu, President of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. "On the other hand, in regions such as Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspesia, we've seen good yields with average taps of 2.62 pounds. This has allowed Quebec to produce enough syrup to meet the demand of the local and external markets."

It should be noted that the American output has not been high with an estimated volume of around 18 million pounds compared to 31 million in 2011. Clearly, the high temperatures in March cut the sugaring season short south of the Canadian border. Official data for other Canadian provinces have not yet been released.

Stable strategic maple syrup reserve
At the close of 2008, the Quebec maple syrup reserve was depleted, which created a scarcity inflating the consumer price of maple syrup in 2009. The rich harvests of the past three years, combined with the slight surplus of the 2012 harvest, will ensure a stability of supply to consumers and therefore, stability of price. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers has managed the world strategic maple syrup reserve for the past 12 years. Currently, it holds approximately 37 million pounds of maple syrup, or about 39% of the average annual Quebec harvest.

In 2009, a 540 ml can of maple syrup was selling in groceries for $8.54, whereas the average price fell to $8.32 by 2010, and then decreased further to $8.22 in 2011. Moreover, consumers can often get a better price by going directly to the producer and cutting out the 'middle man' if they wish. The average price of a can in 2012 will be published over the coming months once all the data has been collected.

About the FPAQ
The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers was founded in 1966 with the mission of defending and promoting the economic, social and moral interests of its 7,400 maple businesses. These men and women are working together to collectively market their products. The quality of their work and their products has made Quebec the producer of close to 75 % of today's global maple syrup output.

Quebec maple syrup crop
YEAR	Total volume [Sales at the farm, retail and bulk] (million pounds)	Yield (pounds per tap)
2012	96.1	2.24
2011	101.9	2.39
2010	88.1	2.04
2009	109.4	2.65
2008	58.8	1.56
2007	61.7	1.73
2006	68.6	1.99

2012 maple syrup production estimates by maple-producing region in Quebec

	Producing Companies	Yield	Production	Taps
	(number)	(pounds/tap)	(million pounds)	(million taps)
Chaudière-Appalaches	3,396	2.20	36.7	16.6
Bas-St-Laurent- Gaspesia	589	2.62	22.0	8.4
Estrie	760	2.13	14.3	6.7
Mauricie - Centre-du-Québec	885	2.22	11.0	4.9
Montérégie	528	1.76	4.8	2.7
Provincial Capital, Saguenay/Lac-St-Jean	210	2.29	3.1	1.4
Laurentides, Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue	159	2.06	2.9	1.4
Lanaudière, Laval, Montreal	149	2.08	1.3	0.6
Total	6,676	2.24	96.1	42.7
Source: AGÉCO Group.  2012. Estimated Quebec maple syrup production yield for 2012. Report. Quebec City: pg. 13

Simon Trépanier, Forestry Engineer, Deputy Director
Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers
[email protected]
Phone: [phone] ext. 8633