{"id":19022,"date":"2026-03-21T21:31:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T01:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.croquezoutaouais.com\/?p=19022"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:10:20","slug":"a-land-shaped-for-the-maple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.croquezoutaouais.com\/en\/a-land-shaped-for-the-maple\/","title":{"rendered":"A Land Shaped for the Maple"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When traveling across the Outaouais, it\u2019s hard not to notice the vastness of the forests that blanket the region. Wooded hills, fertile valleys, rivers winding between maple stands\u2026 everything here seems shaped for the maple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in southwestern Quebec, the Outaouais region spans more than 33,000 km\u00b2 and includes four regional county municipalities (MRC) as well as the City of Gatineau. The greater Gatineau-Ottawa area brings together nearly 1.3 million consumers. This proximity to a large population base is a valuable advantage for the region\u2019s agri\u2011food producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agriculture naturally developed in the valleys of the Outaouais, Gatineau, and Petite\u2011Nation rivers. The diversity of soils, the quality of the water, and the region\u2019s climatic variations create a rich environment for many types of agricultural production. But in spring, it is the maple that steals the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maple, a Living Wealth<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For several years now, maple production has been taking on an increasingly important role in the agricultural landscape of the Outaouais. New businesses are emerging, while others continue to expand their sugarbushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Figures of Maple Production in the Outaouais <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 33 456 km\u00b2<\/strong>
Total area of the Outaouais region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 4 MRC and City of Gatineau<\/strong>
The territory includes the MRC of La Vall\u00e9e\u2011de\u2011la\u2011Gatineau, Les Collines\u2011de\u2011l\u2019Outaouais, Papineau, Pontiac, and the City of Gatineau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Nearly 1,3 million consumers<\/strong>
The proximity of the Gatineau-Ottawa market is a major advantage for the region\u2019s agri\u2011food producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 A growing industry<\/strong>
The number of businesses reporting maple\u2011related activities in the region has risen from just over 40 in the early 2010s to nearly 60 today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 More than 2,5 millions dollars<\/strong>
The approximate value of revenues generated by maple production in the Outaouais in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the MRC of La Vall\u00e9e\u2011de\u2011la\u2011Gatineau, Les Collines\u2011de\u2011l\u2019Outaouais, Papineau, and Pontiac, sugarbushes are quietly shaping the landscape. Each spring, when cold nights and milder days follow one another, the sugaring season brings with it a very particular kind of excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sugarbushes Still Full of Promise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While many sugarbushes are already being tapped, a large portion of the forested territory still holds significant potential for maple production. Over the years, various studies and initiatives have helped deepen our understanding of the richness of these forests and identify areas where maple production could continue to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, the Quebec government has undertaken work to identify priority sugarbushes on public lands in order to support the development of new maple\u2011related projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This approach aims to better showcase a resource that is an integral part of Quebec\u2019s identity, while ensuring a balance with other uses of the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Tradition That Continues to Grow<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Between its vast maple forests, rolling landscapes, and the passion of the producers who work there, the Outaouais has everything it needs to keep maple production thriving for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because behind every sugarbush lies a story: that of women and men who harvest sap with the rhythm of the seasons and who carry forward a know\u2011how deeply rooted in this land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And indeed, several maple producers in the Outaouais are keeping this tradition alive today\u2026 each in their own way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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References<\/h4>\n\n\n\n