Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers buys new warehouse
by Michael Ouellette
Despair not, intrepid Canadians—regardless of our economic standing we have been assured access to the most precious of commodities.
LONGUEUIL, Que.—Despair not, intrepid Canadians—regardless of our economic standing we have been assured access to the most precious of commodities.
And if you think this means cheap gas, don’t be absurd.
Indeed, a continuous market supply of maple syrup has been guaranteed—regardless of nature’s generosity—with the purchase of a 234,000-square-foot warehouse by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers.
The new warehouse will handle the packaging and storing of more than 220,000 barrels of maple syrup and now provides the required space to fulfill the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve.
In 2010, an actuarial study determined that a strategic reserve of 40 million pounds (about 62,000 barrels) would be necessary to avoid stock shortfalls due to poor harvests.
In comparison, the U.S. government controls strategic oils reserves of 1.4 billion barrels.
The Federation acquired its first warehouse in Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly in 2008 which holds 15 million pounds (23,000 barrels).
Slightly more than 36 million pounds of maple syrup are currently stored in three different locations in Quebec.
The Federation is preparing the new warehouse for receiving and grading producers’ syrup in April. Pasteurization and barrel cleaning equipment will be installed “without delay.”
The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers represents the economic social and moral interests of 7,400 producers in Quebec which represent nearly 80 per cent of today’s global maple syrup production.
