Statistics Canada says Canadian maple producers harvested 14.3 million gallons of maple syrup in 2020, surpassing the 2019 record of 13.2 million gallons produced by 8.3%.

The increased production resulted in total sales of $558.5 million in 2020, up 7.9% from a year earlier.

Quebec producers, who account for almost three-quarters of global maple syrup production and 90% of Canadian production, harvested 13.2 million gallons in 2020, up 9.8% from 2019. Higher yields, due to favourable spring weather and more taps, accounted for the higher production.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, maple producers were forced to cease in-person visits to farms and other activities of their business that normally draw large crowds, to comply with physical distancing measures.