Maple syrup producers in eastern Ontario not concerned about U.S. tariff threat

Some maple syrup producers are worried about the threat of tariffs from the U.S. but others say the industry can handle the headwinds. CTV's Jack Richardson rep

The Lanark and District Maple Syrup Producers Association (LDMSPA) is holding their annual general meeting and information session Saturday in Perth, Ont.

This year, the agenda includes a new topic - after U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports starting Feb. 1.

In Quebec, maple syrup producers fear ‘major consequences’ if Trump’s tariffs are imposed. The province exported about 55 per cent of its total maple syrup production south of the border in 2024.

But producers in eastern Ontario don’t seem to share the same concerns.

“Ontario has a very robust domestic market,” says Ray Bonenberg, an inductee into the International Maple Hall of Fame.

“Most of the maple syrup made in Ontario is sold in Ontario.”

Bonenberg owns and operates Mapleside Sugarbush in Pembroke, Ont., and tells CTV News Ottawa that compared to their Quebec counterparts, Ontario maple producers export very little to the United States.

“The effect of tariffs, or any type of tariff on Ontario syrup, would probably be less than people may think,” he said. “We feel that the impact is not going to be that great for us.”

Bonenberg says Ontario sugar bushes may have to compete with Quebec if they’re looking for more domestic business as a result of the tariffs.

The LDMSPA is a group of just under 100 maple syrup producers from Lanark County, Frontenac County, Leeds and Grenville and the Ottawa-Carleton areas of eastern Ontario.

Each one is eager to start tapping trees after an extremely successful 2024 season.

According to Statistics Canada, maple syrup production in Ontario was up 20.1 per cent compared to 2023. Across Canada’s maple producing provinces, production was up 91.3 per cent in total.

Martin Ennis is the vice president of the LDMSPA and owner of Ennis Maple Products just north of Perth. His sugar bush doesn’t export to the U.S. at all, relying on local retailers and farmer’s markets - like many others in the region.

“Our family farm does not export to the United States,” he said.

“Any potential issues with the border and tariffs between Canada and the U.S. will have minimal impact on local producers.”

Ennis also says the province’s maple producing industry has a lot of untapped potential.

“Ontario’s market has a lot of room to grow,” he said. “We have as many maples as there are in Quebec, but Ontario as a whole has not tapped into that potential of the maples.”

Quebec produced 18 million gallons of maple syrup compared to 607,000 gallons in Ontario during the 2024 season.