There are over 12,000 maple syrup producers and 9,500 maple farms in Canada. Maple sap is collected during early spring, usually March and April when maple trees are in dormancy state. This increase was mostly caused by an increase in the number of taps and by an early and warm spring. Consumption of maple products has been stable for the last 20 years at about 140 grams annually per capita.
Maple syrup comes from the maple tree, an amazing natural sugar-making factory.
During the growing season, maple trees accumulate starch. With the spring thaw, enzymes change this starch into sugar which mixes with the water absorbed through the roots, imparting a slightly sweet taste. In early March the sap starts to run for about six to eight weeks and gives energy to the tree to make it grow. All trees produce sap but maple trees produce sweeter sap than other trees, and more of it. Today there are more than 100 million maple trees in Canada, but only a few of them are tapped for syrup making.