As part of IMSI’s Annual meeting in Amherst, Massachusetts in October 2008, there was a panel discussion focusing on the current supply and demand scenario facing the international maple syrup industry. As many users of this website will know, the supply of maple syrup in reserve has been virtually used up and more syrup is currently needed to satisfy market demand in North America and overseas. This has posed challenges for packers and vendors of syrup who are expected by buyers to maintain a reasonably steady supply of syrup to meet market demand. The average price of syrup sold both as bulk and retail has increased significantly in many areas. Charles-Felix Ross, Executive Director of the Federation of Maple Syrup Producers in Quebec and Arnold Coombs, Marketing Manager with Bascom’s Maple Products in New Hampshire participated in the panel. Despite the challenges posed by the imbalance in supply and demand at the present time, consensus emerged that the industry should maintain its market performance  and competitive position provided that a normal size of crop or perhaps better is achieved in 2009. The panelists agreed that there are a few very important ingredients to maintaining a prosperous maple industry. Factors included:

1. A return to average or above average yields of syrup in larger producing regions.
2. The need to maintain a strategic reserve of syrup to help keep supply and demand in balance.
3. Investment in research and in the development of new products and uses for maple sap and syrup.
4. Effective marketing strategies for syrup.