Barrel types
Four types of barrel are used to deliver maple syrup in Quebec:
- Plastic
- Stainless steel
- Galvanized steel
- Single-use and other barrels
Barrel type and condition on the price of maple syrup
Under the latest marketing agreement for the 2017 and 2018 harvests, a premium remains in place for using stainless steel barrels. However, the agreement imposes a penalty for using galvanized steel barrels. This is justified by the outright ban on the use of galvanized barrels in certain American states and the resulting risk of having our exports to these states banned.
This penalty, combined with the premium for using stainless steel, is an incentive to purchase stainless steel barrels.
Impact of barrel type and condition on the price of maple syrup (2017-2018 harvest years)
| Barrel type | Condition | Impact on price of maple syrup | |
| 2017 | 2018 | ||
|
Stainless steel |
|
Compliant and noncompliant barrels accepted if in good condition |
|
|
Galvanized steel |
Good |
Barrels accepted and price decrease of 5¢/lb if barrels belong to producer |
Barrels accepted and price decrease of 7¢/lb if barrels belong to producer |
|
Galvanized steel |
Deteriorated |
Same impact as barrels in good condition, but barrels are not returned to producer and are destroyed |
|
|
Plastic |
|
Barrels accepted if in good condition with no impact on price | |
| Single use |
|
Barrels accepted if in good condition, but are not returned to producer and are destroyed | |
Barrel return date
In accordance with the marketing agreement, “authorized buyers must return the producer’s barrels no later than February 28 of the current marketing year, unless there is a written agreement with the producer.”
If an authorized buyer has not returned the barrels by this date and still does not deliver them despite your requests, you can send them a formal notice.
