Maple syrup producers must overcome several difficulties, in particular the supply of metal containers to preserve the product and the increase in production costs, so much so that the price of syrup is likely to increase.
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The pressure is mounting for some maple syrup producers, as they are still waiting for the delivery of metal containers. “I’ve been going to the hardware store for three weeks and every time I ask for the date. I am told that we are staying the course for mid-March,” explained the owner of Érablière Prince, Fanny Prince.
At the BMR in Nicolet, where we supply a hundred sugar shacks in the Centre-du-Québec region, we placed the order with container producers last July. The retailer expected to receive them in October, but they are still not available. The company therefore turned to another manufacturer. They should be able to receive them early next week.
However, some maple producers had anticipated this scenario, such as the Cabane à sucre du Boisé, in Trois-Rivières.
“I had an intuition, I was sure that we would run out of rods with the problems at the docks. Besides, my supplier was to receive a large quantity of rods, but he received only 40%. All my costs have increased by regarding 25%,” said owner Robert Dufresne.
Higher taxes, labor shortages and increased packaging costs will affect the price to the consumer, Dufresne said.
Same story at Érablière Prince. “For those who want to buy syrup directly at the cabin, we will go from $55 to $60 per gallon,” said Ms.me Prince.
However, the rise in the price of maple syrup might take time to be felt in Quebec grocery stores. The Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec are in charge of the mass distribution of the product, but their marketing agreement is a three-year agreement that ends next year.
“For this year, the price we sell to processors has already been set. Maple producers will receive a penny more per pound. As for the increase in groceries, I therefore cannot answer, because it is the processors who set the price with their customers, ”said Isabelle Lapointe, general manager of Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec.
Moreover, the organization confirms that the reserves of maple syrup are decreasing.