Global supply shortages affected toy stores in the United States and coffee producers in Brazil. In Canada, the country’s liquid gold, maple syrup, is running low, and therefore there is a shortage of it.
The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP), the so-called Opec of maple syrup, released nearly half of its emergency reserve. It is equivalent to 22 million kilograms.
Increased demand and a shorter harvest drove the shortage of Maple, according to QMSP.
In Canada, it’s the first time the reserve of Maple syrup is in use in three years due to its shortage.
“That’s why the reserve is made, to never miss maple syrup. And we won’t miss maple syrup!” QMSP’s Helene Normandin spoke to public radio in the United States.
Quebec, Canada’s Francophone province, generates about three-quarters of all maple syrup produced worldwide.
This year’s supply was less by approximately a quarter
According to QMSP, 183 million kilograms of maple syrup was produced worldwide in 2021. 60 million kilograms from it was coming from Quebec’s woodlands. The QMSP is already planning for next year’s harvest, which will include an additional 7 million trees.
Maple syrup is collected straight from sugar maple trees and concentrated into maple syrup by boiling.
It’s tedious work that is extremely reliant on the weather. Only when the temperature is above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, one can tap maple trees. This year’s supply was less by approximately a quarter due to a shorter and warmer season.
At the same time, global maple syrup sales increased by more than 36% year over year, according to QMSP.
Sugar-stealing is also one of the drawbacks to the worldwide demand for Quebec’s maple syrup.
Thieves stole approximately 3,000 tonnes of maple syrup worth an estimated $18 million (£13.6 million) in 2012. Two-thirds of the syrup that had been stolen was eventually found.
