The arrival of spring rhymes with the sugaring-off season in the Eastern Townships. In this newsletter, you will find a few tips to know before buying a maple grove and getting into the maple business. Enjoy your reading!

Preparing a business plan
Before starting this project, it is necessary to take certain steps to obtain as much information as possible. The exploitation of a maple grove requires a lot of investments and specific authorizations. You must therefore consult a forest inventory to know the number of potential taps, the condition of your sugar bush and the value of the buildings. There is also a part to know about the quotas. These are distributed free of charge but in limited quantities. A maple producer cannot sell or transfer his quotas to another producer. Did you know that there is a strategic reserve of maple syrup “stocks”? It is administered by the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers Association. Despite the fact that this field remains complex, the sugar maple is part of our Quebec identity. So be sure to get the right advice before buying a maple grove!

Marketing, transformation and agrotourism
In maple syrup production, it is possible to develop an agrotourism component, for example by offering meals, a B&B or a country table. However, you must make sure to respect the laws and regulations in effect. Deal with professionals in the field (certified appraiser, agricultural consulting group, real estate broker with experience in the agricultural field, notaries) who can guide you in this project.

If you wish to learn more about this subject, we recommend that you contact these two resources: MAPAQ and PPAQ.