Quebec's maple syrup industry to maintain leading position with addition of 282 new businesses

LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 3, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Come spring, Quebec will be home to 282 new maple syrup businesses. The new companies will invest more than $30 million in their regions to get their facilities ready for the next maple production season. On October 7, 2016, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup held a draw to allocate 1,147,784 new taps—which translates into 2.8 million pounds of maple syrup and $8 million in farm sales.

"We are pleased to welcome these 282 new maple syrup producers," said Federation president Serge Beaulieu. "They will help our already-prosperous industry continue to thrive. Their arrival is also great news for the Quebec economy, because it will create wealth outside major urban areas and boost the vitality of hundreds of rural towns and villages."

The Federation had committed to allocating a total of five million taps, as authorized by RMAAQ (Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec) in a June 7, 2016 decision. This was good news for another 2,100 businesses as well. Of the five million taps to be allocated in 2016, 3.6 million were attributed to businesses that already have a quota and are looking to expand. All told, 2,382 businesses split up the five million additional taps slated to go into production by 2018. Quebec will now boast 48 million taps, far outstripping the United States' 12 million.

The maple industry makes room for young producers
The Federation is committed to encouraging a new generation of producers (under 40) and is giving them the opportunity to join the collective marketing system by awarding them a minimum of 40,000 taps each year. This year, a total of 123,233 taps were allocated to 28 businesses in the Young Entrepreneur (11 businesses) and Startup (17 businesses) categories.

Timing for the next quota issue
In its June 7, 2016 decision, RMAAQ authorized the Federation to issue new quotas. Decisions will be made by the Federation's board of directors based on seven criteria: sales growth and expected growth, strategic reserve inventory levels, buyer inventory levels, updated actuarial studies on ideal inventory levels, increases in productivity, compliance rates with new project implementation deadlines, and CIE's opinion (Conseil de l'industrie de l'érable, the buyer's association). "This will enable us to react faster to growing market demand and stay competitive instead of waiting 14 months for RMAAQ's decision," said Mr. Beaulieu, Federation president.

If the Federation decides to issue new quotas, it must make the decision by May 31 and publish a notice in La Terre de chez nous by July 1 to inform producers who are interested.

Five million taps represents:

• A $43 million injection into Quebec's economy
• Close to 15 million more pounds of maple syrup
• Nearly 10 million cans of maple syrup
• 282 new maple syrup businesses in production
• Investments of more than $100 million in sugar bushes
• Added wealth and prosperity to rural areas and the consolidation of Quebec's position as the world's leading maple syrup producer

Maple syrup glossary*

Young Entrepreneur category: Maple syrup businesses owned by individuals under age 40 with no maple syrup quota

Startup category: New or existing maple syrup businesses with no maple syrup quota

Expansion category:   Maple syrup businesses that already have a quota and wish to expand their operations

* Detailed definitions can be found on the New Quotas page of http://fpaq.ca/en/.

Allocation of new quotas – Young Entrepreneur and Startup categories
Results of the draw on October 7, 2016

Maple syrup region	Winning businesses	Taps allocated
Appalaches/Beauce/Lotbinière	14%	84,414	7%
Bas-Saint-Laurent/Gaspésie	8%:	191,593	17%
Beauce	11%	139,968	12%
Centre-du-Québec	13%	125,158	11%
Côte-du-Sud	12%	103,911	9%
Estrie	12%	210,941	18%
Lanaudière	2%	23,314	2%
Mauricie	3%	23,175	2%
Outaouais/Laurentides	5%	51,422	4%
Québec/Rive-Nord	5%	29,463	3%
Saint-Hyacinthe	12%	126,700	11%
Saint-Jean/Valleyfield	4%	37,725	3%
TOTAL		1,147,784

Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Allocation of new quotas – Expansion category
Results of distribution in 200-tap increments

Maple syrup region	Winning businesses	Taps allocated
Appalaches/Beauce/Lotbinière	14%	442,531	12%
Bas-Saint-Laurent/Gaspésie	15%	632,766	18%
Beauce	13%	381,885	11%
Centre-du-Québec	11%	365,666	10%
Côte-du-Sud	13%	439,036	12%
Estrie	16%	617,072	17%
Lanaudière	2%	68,246	2%
Mauricie	1%	35,178	1%
Outaouais/Laurentides	3%	146,402	4%
Québec/Rive-Nord	3%	96,984	3%
Saint-Hyacinthe	7%	265,161	7%
Saint-Jean/Valleyfield	3%	121,989	3%
Total		3,612,916

Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

About the Federation

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 7,300 maple syrup businesses, as well as developing initiatives to collectively market maple products. The quality work of these maple producers has made Quebec the proud source of over 70% of the world's maple syrup.

fpaq.ca— @AcericoleQc

SOURCE Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers

Caroline Cyr, Communications Advisor, Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, 450-679-7021, ext. 8609 -- [email protected]