The governments of Canada and Quebec are providing $774,000 in funding to start up and implement the Cash Advances on the Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve Program. The program, put in place by the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec, is part of the AgriRisk Initiatives co-funded under the Growing Forward 2 agreement.
Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Laurent Lessard, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, made the announcement, stating that the funding is intended to cover part of the costs associated with starting up and implementing the program, which will make it possible to pay advances to Quebec producers for maple syrup stored in the strategic reserve. As the maple syrup can be stocked there for a long period, maple syrup producers cannot secure financing on its value. As a result of this program, maple syrup producers will be able to access cash to invest in their businesses.
Source : Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada