Maple syrup production reaches record high while honey output drops

OTTAWA — Maple syrup and honey, two natural Canadian sweeteners, moved in opposite directions last season, with maple syrup output reaching a record high and honey volume dropping to its lowest level in several years.

Statistics Canada says the maple syrup harvest rose by 34.8% from a year earlier to a record 60 million litres (13.2 million gallons) on higher yields and more taps – despite a cold, late spring in Eastern Canada.

The government agency, which uses imperial measurements in its report, says the total value of maple products rose to $517.5 million on higher output as prices remained relatively stable at $39.19 per gallon (about $8.60 per litre).

Quebec, which accounted for 91.1% of Canadian maple syrup production in 2019, harvested 55 million litres (12 million gallons), up 35% from a year earlier.

New Brunswick maple syrup production surged 65.5% to 598,000 gallons, Ontario was up 8.1% to 502,300 gallons and Nova Scotia up 26.5% to 70,000 gallons.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada says honey production fell 15.4% to 80.4 million pounds (36.5 million kilograms) in 2019 as a cold, wet spring and summer on the Prairies caused the area’s lowest output in seven years.

Production in Alberta, Canada’s largest honey-producing province, decreased 35% to 25.1 million pounds (11.4 million kilograms), the lowest level since 2000. Output was down 1.9 per cent in Manitoba and 1.4 per cent in Saskatchewan. Together the three provinces account for about 80% of Canadian honey production.

The value of Canadian honey sold fell 13.8% to $173 million, the lowest level in three years due to lower yields.

The number of Canadian beekeepers dipped to 10,344 with more than half located in BC and Ontario where bees are mainly used to pollinate fruit and vegetables.

The number of bee colonies in Canada was down 2.1% to 773,182.