Maple Syrup black market: Who Knew?
If you’ve ever lived in a household of teenagers the only that approaches the demand for data (whether WiFi or cellular) is that for the precious maple syrup to smother pancakes, waffles or the like! And of course, if you’re at all in-tune with our Foods with Integrity thematic, you know the “fake stuff” just doesn’t cut it — not naming names but it rhymes with “Cog Lapin” — and it ain’t cheap these days.
Well, relief could be on the way as the Canadians are set to kick up the production in order the quell black market sales (yes, there is a black market for maple syrup) and reclaim market share. And for us Cashstrapped Consumers, increase market competition equals lower prices — let the syrup flow!
After eight years of tightly limiting output to keep prices high, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers next year will boost its quota by 12 percent for 13,500 sap farmers who operate in the Canadian province. The goal is twofold: Reclaim the 10 percent of market share lost to the U.S. over the last decade, and quell a rebellion by producers increasingly turning to black market sales for growth.
Source: Maple Syrup Cartel Battles a Black Market Rebellion – Bloomberg
