41,189 Taps Awarded to New Maple Producers
Dreams came true for 6 aspiring maple producers this morning, when Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) drew their names for the 40,000 taps available for this year’s Young Entrepreneur Program. The lucky winners, all aged 40 or younger, may now pursue their career ambitions as part of the booming maple industry.
QMSP Vice-President Éric Bouchard oversaw the draw at Union des producteurs agricoles headquarters, while hopefuls looked on in person or live via the QMSP Facebook page. In another display of the constantly expanding interest in maple syrup production as a profession, there were 101 applications received from all over the province and deemed eligible, resulting in the allocation of 41,189 taps. Once again this year, the draw was supervised by the accounting firm Blain Joyal Charbonneau S.E.N.C.R.L., represented by Bobby Lim.
The Future Belongs to Our Youth
“The next generation has the future of maple production in its hands. We need them to protect the long-term development of our sector, to continue the writing of our history, and to make us proud of the maple syrup enjoyed by us here at home and all around the world,” declared Vice-President Bouchard. “Sales and exports are on the rise, and the Québec maple industry is thriving. Demand for our syrup is very high and we need the next generation to join the production stream to meet it.”
The regulations established by the Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec (RMAAQ) require that QMSP allocates a minimum of 40,000 taps to young maple producers each year. Since 2016, 301,804 taps have been granted to 43 new enterprises.
About Québec Maple Syrup Producers and the Érable du Québec Brand
Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) represents the interests of 13,300 women and men and more than 8,000 enterprises that produce maple syrup. Québec provides an average 72% of the world’s maple syrup supply, exporting it to more than 70 countries.
QMSP.ca – @AcericoleQc
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