Maple Syrup: MapleSource 2009 Season Update by Bascom Family Farms
Going into the 2009 season, the maple industry’s warehouses were empty. That’s because last year’s sub par production (at about 90 million lbs.) created a shortfall which drove up prices. To put it in perspective, the world demand in 2007 was approximately 120 million lbs.
Fortunately, Mother Nature was much better to us this spring. She bestowed us with a traditional sugaring season filled with freezing nights followed by warm days. The sap kept flowing and the sugarmakers kept boiling! The result gave us what just may be the largest crop in 75 years. While all official reports haven’t been released yet, the estimates are that Quebec produced 110 million lbs. with another 10 million lbs. in other Canadian provinces. Add that to the U.S. crop estimate of 25 million lbs. (Vermont producing about a third of that) and you have an amazing 145 million lbs. of maple industry-wide!
While you might expect a surplus and lower prices, the low inventory levels at the beginning of the season caused most packers to ramp up packaging lines to refill the warehouses and store shelves. So, while prices have come down, I doubt that there will be much of a surplus. The fact is that it took about 20 million lbs. just to get back “to zero.” As the 2009 selling season heats up, it appears that we’re right back to our 10 million lbs. per month demand. At this rate, there won’t be much of a carryover into the 2010 crop, but equipment sales to sugarmakers are up so production could expand once again this year. Seems that no matter what Mother Nature throws at us, the maple industry continues to grow.
Last but not least, this season’s grade mix skewed towards the lighter grades. Typically, an average crop would give us 15% Commercial grade. This year we got us 7% to 8% Commercial so these prices may trend upward throughout the year. Overall, the flavor was excellent this year; a wonderful clean maple flavor that we all enjoy.
We work hard to ensure our customers of an ongoing supply of syrup. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about how the crop affects you. Thank you for your business and we look forward to working with you through 2009.
Regards,
Arnold
Arnold Coombs
Bascom Family Farms
888-266-6271
