“It’s important for us to find a fit with the Japanese culture, and who better than a Japanese chef to tell us how to use maple syrup? So that’s what we’re trying to do,” said David Marino, director of promotion and market development at the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers.
“We do partnerships with local chefs and different things to make sure that maple is included, in the right way, in Japanese culture.”
Marino added that the rise in demand is being driven by consumers seeking more natural alternatives to refined sugar.
Often referred to as “liquid gold”, maple syrup typically retails for between US$14 and US$18 per litre.
Its value is such that Canada maintains a strategic reserve to stabilise supply and prices – sometimes dubbed the “OPEC of maple syrup”, in reference to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which coordinates policies to stabilise oil markets globally.
In years when production falls short, syrup is released from the reserve, while stocks are replenished in stronger seasons.
However, with demand surging, reserves are increasingly being drawn down even as supply remains tight.
Despite the uncertainties posed by climate change, industry leaders say there is still room to expand production, particularly in Quebec’s northern forests.
“We’re lucky in Quebec because we still have a lot of space up north also and a lot of forests that are untouched and ready for production, so we’re ready for the coming years,” Marino said.
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