The Maple Syrup Heist
The United States has a strategic petroleum reserve maintained by the US Department of Energy. It contains millions of liters of oil in order to prevent an oil shortage during unstable times. We don’t have such a thing in Canada. ๐ but we do have something called a strategic maple syrup reserve :D, managed by the syrup federation of Quebec, who else. Our reserve which contains millions of liters of syrup ensures the industry has enough supply to meet demand during a year of low syrup production. According to the federation, Quebec produces about 71% of the world’s maple syrup supply. Don’t mess with Canada. We’ll sweeten you to death. ๐
It might seem like a sappy thing to have, but our syrup reserve is serious business. A barrel of oil is only worth $100 now. But a barrel of maple syrup is worth $1,800. This sticky stuff is like liquid gold.ย And with about 10,000 people employed in the syrup industry, it’s an important part of our economy.
But between August 2011 and July 2012, thieves made off with 9,600 barrels of maple syrup valued at $18 million, from a warehouse belonging to the syrup federation. The security people doing routine checks of the warehouses must have been real saps. How could it take them so long to realize they were being pilfered. Once the news got out, more than 40 search warrants were executed in New Brunswick, Ontario and in the United States. Thankfully the police managed to catch a handful of the sticky fingered culprits and recover most of the stolen maple syrup.
Not all were caught
So far 18 people have been arrested. One of them used to be a financial adviser. Maybe he should have just stuck to his day job. I hope the charges of theft and fraud will stick for these criminals because that’s what they deserve for trying to steal our national treasure.
But some of the stolen goods may have already made it onto the streets. I you see any sketchy guys in long coats hustling maple syrup, make sure you report it to the maple syrup of federation of Quebec. ๐
How does someone find out this much information about maple syrup?
Meh (ใปใธใป) It’s a Canadian thing
wow! I hadn’t heard about this at all, and I’m Canadian. Fascinating stuff.
It’s amazing the stuff that people will buy truckloads of. I’ve heard that laundry detergent theft is becoming increasingly common, too!
Lol, I wouldn’t be surprised. With the economy still recovering criminals are finding new ways to make a quick buck.
I remember reading about this and thought it must’ve been a joke. Glad they’ve been able to make some arrests. That’s higher than the price of gold!
I wonder if anyone has the movie rights to this story. They can make it into a parody of Ocean’s 11 or something ๐
Would that not be called Ocean’s 18, since 18 implcated??? Or maybe better yet lets call it “The Golden 18”? I hope you know a good producer, I’m sure it would get great viewership in Canada – Cheers.
Good thinking. Or The Sticky 18. We should trademark these names before someone else takes them ๐
This remind me of the 1630’s tulip bulb bubble.
Just why is the price so high? Is there really no other source of sticky sweet stuff? Or is it some protection racket? Can the maple trees not be grown somewhere else? Perhaps we should start making it here in the Ol’ Country and brand it within the EU (if we are still in that!).
After all, what can you do with maple syrup other than eat it on pancakes etc. up your cholesterol and keep your dentist in work and hysterics?
Sorry our Canadian friends – maple syrup is way too sweet for my taste!
๐
We Canadians are certainly guilty of many industry protective measures :0) hurts competition, but good for all the producers currently in business. I’m not sure what all the factors are that contribute to the high price of maple syrup but I think branding is a big deal. Another popular export of ours is icewine. You can get icewine from other countries, but few will have the same kind of demand as true Canadian icewine ๐ It’s kind of like how only sparkling wine made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France can be officially called “Champagne” but is pretty much just like any other sparkling wine that uses the same varietals and fermentation process. Yet Champagne is many times the cost of sparkling wine. Go figure.
I actually find icewine too cloyingly sweet now that I’m older, and I’ve been diligently cutting down on sugar.
I prefer Gewurtztraminer from France (Alsace) as a less sweet, slightly more refined version of icewine.
That said, Canadian icewine IS said to be the best.. it wasn’t too bad to make foie gras with.
Very cute post!!! I love syrup and I wish we had some reserves too. Maybe they are hiding it in Vermont under all the snow!
Haha, perhaps. You never know these days. Or maybe I just watch too many conspiracy films.
I LOVE maple anything- syrup, candy, etc. I absolutely love it! That is insane that people are stealing it though. WTH?
Making maple taffy on snow was one the funnest things I did as a kid :0)
Cute post! I had no idea maple syrup was that high in value, but then I should have based on the price it sells for in grocery stores for a small bottle. It is so good though!!
Yeah, all those small bottles adds up doesn’t it. I use it to replace honey in recipes sometimes.
We WILL sweeten you to death.
I knew about the maple syrup business, having lived in Montreal for a while now (few years). They take their maple syrup here seriously, and I can taste the difference between good and bad syrup.
It’s a national identity thing and most associated with Canada, just as how I look at the U.S. and see eagles.
Maple syrup, polar bears, beavers, icewine, beer, hockey, maple-anything.. that’s Canada. That’s why we have the maple leaf in our flag.
We have some really iconic symbols for sure. Canada’s brand is the 2nd strongest in the world. We are only behind Australia in terms of global branding and recognition :0)
That’s awesome! I read about this when it happened. I would NEVER turn in these thieves, though, if I could get maple syrup cheaper. I love maple syrup, and that stuff’s expensive!
I’m currently trying to find a way to invest in maple syrup ๐