4. There’s a Maple Syrup Cartel
The word ‘cartel’ may be a strong choice of words in this case. However, it’s apt when you consider the following. The majority of maple syrup farmers sell their syrup production to the FPAQ. This organization then negotiates pricing and supply with the market. Around 8-buyers consume all output in the country. The bottle and distribute the syrup to retailers, exporters and local grocery stores across Canada.
FPAQ control the supply, and when there is a surplus, they store it in strategic reserves for emergency supply during lean years. The syrup reserves help the FPAQ maintain even pricing across seasons by keeping tight control of the market supply. This strategy allows farmers to enjoy a consistent income from their efforts, without risking exposure to volatile market pricing.
Around 46-million-pounds of maple syrup sit in strategic reserves positioned throughout Plessisville, Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, and Saint-Louis-de-Blandford. The reserves feature top-notch security to prevent theft and safeguard stocks against vandalism.