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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that producers of maple sap used to make maple syrup are now eligible for direct financial relief to help offset the financial harm they have experienced because of COVID-19.
Syrup producers are now eligible for direct relief from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP, created through the CARES Act, is providing up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers. Maine is the third-largest producer of maple syrup and experienced substantial revenue losses due to the cancellation of Maple Sunday events this spring, state officials said.
Maine is home to more than 550 maple syrup producers whose combined output totaled 580,000 gallons with a value of $21.6 million last year alone. Similar to other agricultural producers across the country, maple syrup producers in the state of Maine have suffered greatly because of COVID-19. The impact on this industry is even more acute than most, however, given its short season from late February to mid-April and heavy reliance on direct-to-consumer sales, officials said.
Every March, sugarhouses across Maine host Maple Sunday events, an annual celebration showcasing maple syrup operations throughout Maine that serves as a catalyst for sales. Due to the pandemic, this collection of events was effectively cancelled this year, eliminating many producers’ best opportunity to connect with consumers and secure sales.
CFAP was established to provide “vital assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.” To date, a total of more than $14 million has been awarded through CFAP to Maine farmers to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19.
The USDA is continuing to accept applications from farmers through Sept. 11. For more information, visit Farmers.gov/cfap.
