1

Press Release for immediate release

The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers unveils its new factory warehouse
home of the Global Strategic Maple Reserve
Tens of millions of pounds of maple syrup will be processed and stored
in the 235,000-square-foot building

Longueuil, October 18, 2013 Today, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (FPAQ) officially opened
its new factory warehouse for the Global Strategic Maple Reserve, a facility found nowhere else in the world.
The Reserve enables maple producers to better mitigate the risks brought about by adverse weather conditions.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Deputy Premier of Quebec, Franois Gendron, was present
for the unveiling along with Sylvie Roy, MNA for Arthabaska, and the Mayor of Laurierville, Marc Simoneau.
Members of the Conseil de lindustrie de lrable, the association representing all bulk maple syrup purchasers,
were also in attendance.

Located in Laurierville, in the RCM de l'rable, Centre-du-Qubec, this 235,000-square-foot warehouse is used
to receive, pasteurize and store the tens of millions of pounds of maple syrup that make up the global Reserve.
Thanks to the Reserve, consumers everywhere can count on a steady supply of maple products with stable
prices, regardless of what Mother Nature has in store.

Three quarters of global maple syrup production comes from this region
Generating 75% of global maple syrup output alone, Quebec exports about 90% of what it produces. This
represents annual farm revenues of $250 million and more than 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Maple syrup
production has long been considered an artisan's trade, but contributes around three quarters of a billion
dollars to Canada's GDP and generates tax revenues of $186 million.

When full, this old furniture factory will receive up to 80 million pounds of syrup, which represents 190,000
barrels of 32 gallons each, or the equivalent of 11 Olympic-size swimming pools. If they were placed side by side
and lying down, these barrels would stretch approximately 145 kilometresthe distance between Montreal and
Sherbrooke. There are currently 60 million pounds of syrup in the Reserve, spread out over various sites with
the main one now being Laurierville.

Syrup that was not sold during the year is received at the facility, then pasteurized before being transferred into
new food-grade barrels in order to preserve the quality and flavour for future sales. The latest equipment
installed by the FPAQ for these tasks can handle 21,000 gallons per day (95,466 litres). The new facility employs
about 20 people.

The FPAQ's pasteurization operations were previously performed at a facility in St-Antoine-de-Tilly. In order to
increase efficiency, it was decided to move these activities to a larger installation in Laurierville.





2



Maple syrup and the Reserve: proudly Canadian
"For the Federation and 7,300 Quebec maple syrup businesses, this facility is a great source of pride," says Serge
Beaulieu, president of the FPAQ, who sees it as essential for supporting the maple syrup industry. "As well as
confirming our status as the world's primary producer of maple syrup, it enables us to maintain price stability by
ensuring that a steady supply of syrup is made available for different markets in the event of poor harvests." For
example, after a series of relatively poor harvests from 2005 to 2008, the strategic Reserve ensured continual
supply as new markets were being developed in both Canada and abroad. "This is how we mitigate risk in maple
production. Other sectors use stabilization insurance or complete product management control; we set a
portion of our product aside for the future."

The FPAQ has invested more than $4 million in acquiring the building and transforming it into a factory that
meets food standards. The management has paid particular attention to security.

The Government of Quebec, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, awarded $360,500 toward
optimization of barrel receiving, pasteurization, barrelling and rinsate recycling as part of its Program to Support
Sectoral Development Strategies.


About the FPAQ
Founded in 1966, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers is driven by its mission to defend and
promote the economic, social and moral interests of 7,300 Quebec maple syrup businesses and to develop
initiatives to collectively market their products. The quality work of these maple producers has made Quebec
the proud source of 75% of the world's maple syrup.

- 30 -
maplesyrupfederation.com
www.ilovemaple.ca


Source
Paul Rouillard
Deputy Director
Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers
450-679-0540 ext. 8330
paulrouillard@upa.qc.ca

Media relations
Mlanie Bergeron
514 922-2009
melanie.bergeron@live.ca

Denise Deveau
514 762-9889
denise.deveau@videotron.ca