Demand for Canadian syrup soars

BEACHVILLE, Ontario, March 12 (UPI) -- Global demand for Canada's maple syrup keeps rising, and observers say they credit an effective marketing campaign for the success.

The Globe & Mail reported Thursday that sweet syrup from Canadian maple trees has never been higher.

Bob Jakeman of syrup distributor and retailer Jakeman's Maple Products in Beachville told the newspaper that his business has never been better.

"Prices are up about 30 to 40 percent over last year. Our raw material prices, or the price that the farmers get, has almost doubled," he said.

He said for the average farmer, global demand for Canadian syrup is a boon.

"It's getting up there and it's becoming very profitable to make and market maple syrup. For the average farmer, it is going to be a real boon," Jakeman added.

The newspaper said the Canadian province of Quebec accounts for 71 percent of the world's maple syrup production, a crop valued at about $136 million in 2007.

To help sell their products, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, which represents some 7,600 companies, began a major marketing effort years ago aimed at increasing maple exports to countries outside of the United States.