Helping Maple Syrup Producers in Peterborough-Kawartha Boost Their Operations
NEWS March 07, 2024
Peterborough– The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1 million through the
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support productivity and growth of
businesses in the province’s maple syrup sector. Dave Smith MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, is pleased to announce that the Maple Production Improvement Initiative is providing up to $35,509.78 for two local businesses, in Douro-Dummer and Lakefield to boost the efficiency of their operations.
The initiative will support the purchase and installation of upgraded production equipment for eligible syrup producers, that will increase productivity, efficiency and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It will also cover a portion of woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.
“I am pleased to see the Maple Production Improvement Initiative funding these projects in Lakefield and
Douro-Dummer,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “By supporting our maple syrup
producers in this way, we’re working to help them tap into their potential to grow their businesses.” Add MPP Smith.
Across the province, the Maple Production Improvement Initiative is providing 77 maple syrup producers with cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations.
“Maple syrup is a quintessentially Canadian treat, and this program is designed to expand the size, efficiency and competitiveness of Ontario’s maple syrup sector,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. “Through the Maple Production Improvement Initiative we’re working to increase production, supporting specific growth targets laid out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”
Ontario is Canada’s third-largest maple syrup-producing province, behind Quebec and New Brunswick. In
2022, it produced 4.5 per cent of Canada’s maple syrup or about 2.68 million litres of syrup.
Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial
governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agribased products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.