Four producers will share more than $124,000
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Ontario government is investing in four maple syrup producers with maple syrup season approaching.
Four maple syrup producers in the Parry Sound area will share more than $124,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to purchase new equipment and expand operations.
“Ontario produces some of the highest-quality maple syrup in the world and we are lucky to have many of those producers right here in Parry Sound,” said Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka.
Hubbert’s Maple Products, Two Wet Dogs Inc., Trillium Maple Farm and Clapperton’s Maple Syrup are the funding recipients.
Hubbert’s is receiving $98,223, which is the highest amount between the four farms.
The funding will be used to renovate a 5,200-square-foot sugar house, build a new 5,000-square-foot warehouse and purchase new production equipment.
“The project represents the largest investment in a farm in this localized area in over 100 years, helping us meet the demand for quality Northern Ontario food while providing for employment opportunities as we grow,” Bill Hubbert, co-owner of Hubbert’s Maple Products, said in a statement.
Trillium Maple Farm and Clapperton’s Maple Syrup will use their portions of funding to purchase new equipment and build a new kitchen and bottling room, respectively.
And in the case of Two Wet Dogs Inc., they will use their share to start a maple syrup operation of 500 taps on 25 acres.
The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association is pleased with the government support.
“We are excited to see the Government of Ontario recognize the importance of maple production to the economies of rural areas in our province,” John Williams, the organization’s executive director, told Farms.com in an emailed statement. “These investments will create stronger maple businesses with improved economic viability. The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association is proud to note that these outstanding producers are all members of our association.”
Ontario is the third largest maple syrup-producing province in the country.
In 2020, producers in Quebec produced more than 13 million gallons of maple syrup, good for about 92 per cent of the Canadian market share.
Farmers in New Brunswick produced about 561,000 gallons and Ontario maple producers produced about 467,000 gallons.