Like many other food industries, maple syrup producers in Ontario have faced their share of challenges, changes and cancellations since the onset of the pandemic.
Gail Cranston and her husband Ivan are the owners of Cranston Farms Maple, south of Lucknow. They are third-generation producers, and their children are the fourth-generation to continue the family business. Gail is also the co-chair of the Grey-Bruce chapter of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association (OMSPA).
The OMSPA represents 11 regions across the province, providing opportunities for its more than 500 members to network, train and receive up-to-date industry information. According to Statistics Canada 2011, the province produced approximately 2.2 million litres of maple syrup with a value of more than $32.5 million. Ontario is the second biggest producer in Canada, ranking behind Quebec. Locally, the Grey Bruce chapter represents 40 members, from very small to very large producers. Cranston says their business taps about 2,000 trees each year.
Cranston said her members were concerned about what effect the pandemic would have on their industry when the initial provincial shutdown was declared on Mar. 17, 2020. Many members were in the midst of production and had a lot of product to sell, and with retail outlets, seasonal pancake houses and restaurants shuttered, and key festivals cancelled, they were forced to look for market opportunities elsewhere in order to sell their goods.
And as the year progressed, the provincial and regional associations found it necessary to cancel more events, including Maple Weekend, held in the spring, and the summer tour. The last summer tour, held in July of 2019, was located in Kincardine and hosted by the Grey Bruce chapter.
In 2021, the annual general meeting, scheduled for January 2020, was held via Zoom. Another Maple Weekend has been cancelled but organizers hope it can be rescheduled for this fall. The summer tour has also been cancelled and won’t be held again until July 2022, in Quinte.
She says members are grateful for the support they have received from OMSPA during the duration of the pandemic, providing them with up-to-date information and health regulations.
“OMSPA really helped us out, with masking, distancing and plexiglass barrier information,” she said.
Cranston says the pandemic has definitely “affected everyone’s bottom line,” whether they are hobby-sized family businesses or massive producers, and everyone is hoping the country gets COVID under control.
“Mother Nature is the boss when it comes to maple syrup,” said Cranston. “It’s just like farming. You have good years and bad years and we are very resilient. We are ready for what comes next.”
