Sweet Liquid Gold Facing Climate Change and Sour Market Conditions: A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of the United States Maple Syrup Sector

Qingbin Wang (), Amrita Shore, Emmanuel Owoicho Abah and Mark Cannella
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Qingbin Wang: Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Amrita Shore: Department of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Emmanuel Owoicho Abah: Food Systems Research Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Mark Cannella: University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, VT 05401, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: This study reviews the development of the U.S. maple syrup industry, assesses its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), and derives recommendations for the industry to attain a more sustainable development. While the industry faces the challenges of increasing yield and production volatility, a downward trend in producer prices since 2008, increasing competition from imports, and impacts of trade policies, etc., it needs innovative strategies to turn its weaknesses and threats into strengths and opportunities. Major recommendations, based on a comprehensive review of the industry’s development and trends and a SWOT analysis, include establishing a national or regional producer governance organization, similar to the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) or the American Honey Producers Association, to advocate for maple syrup producers on issues like trade policies, quality standards and certification, environmental regulations, and to enhance maple syrup producers’ market power, increasing the investment and adoption of climate-resilient technologies, developing more value-added maple syrup products according to consumer preferences and demand, and strengthening the marketing and promotion efforts of industrial organizations, government agents and private enterprises through collaboration for the goal of increasing the demand for U.S. maple syrup in the domestic and foreign markets.

Keywords: maple syrup; producer price; U.S. maple syrup sector; Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP); SWOT analysis; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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