Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association

What Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association does

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association (OMSPA) is a non-profit industry association founded in 1966 and headquartered (via mailing address) in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. It serves as the recognized collective voice of more than 600 maple syrup producers across Ontario, organized through 11 local chapters spanning all major producing regions of the province. Its primary functional role is membership-based advocacy, education, and industry coordination: it represents members in dealings with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) on regulation (notably Ontario Regulation 119/11), publishes the quarterly "Mainline" newsletter and monthly e-letter updates, runs workshops and info days, hosts an annual Summer Tour, and organizes the consumer-facing Maple Weekend open house. Members receive access to the member-exclusive "Sweet Ontario" branding program, a Best Practices Manual, a Cost of Production Model spreadsheet, and an online business directory.

OMSPA's product surface is a portfolio of member resources rather than proprietary technology: instructional videos (tapping basics, plantation development, afforestation, sap collection, maple marketing), downloadable guides (sugarhouse design, judging maple products, remote monitoring, confection making, hydrometer compensation), regulatory explainers under OMAFRA framework, nutritional rack cards, a standardized Sugarbush Lease Agreement template, and the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. Technology infrastructure is limited to a Wix-based public website, YouTube-hosted video content, and standard PDF/Excel downloads; no proprietary software, APIs, AI capabilities, or patents are disclosed.

OMSPA's revenue mechanics are typical of a small member-funded non-profit: recurring annual membership dues from 600+ producers, supplemented by workshop fees (e.g., $20 for members / $30 for non-members at the Lanark Fall Workshop 2025), event revenues (Maple Weekend, Summer Tour, 2026 NAMSC Conference hosting), and occasional targeted government grants (e.g., FedNor's $75,023 for the 2026 NAMSC Conference). The association is governed by a volunteer board chaired by Kyle Gilbertson, with operational leadership from Executive Director Karen Bedard (and John Williams in a prior or concurrent ED role); it maintains no subsidiaries, has made no acquisitions, and operates without private equity or external ownership.

Name

Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association

Legal name

Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association

Website

https://omspa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association is a 1966-founded non-profit industry association representing 600+ maple syrup producers across Ontario through 11 local chapters, providing advocacy, education, regulatory guidance, the "Sweet Ontario" branding program, and member events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wyebridge

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: OMSPA generates revenue through annual membership fees from over 600 maple syrup producers across Ontario. Members receive benefits including newsletters, branding access, event invitations, and promotional materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

OMSPA is a nonprofit industry association that represents over 600 Ontario maple syrup producers ("sugar makers") and delivers member services including the "Sweet Ontario" branding program, the Maple Mainline quarterly newsletter, educational videos, downloadable regulatory and production guides, workshops, an annual Summer Tour, and the Maple Weekend open house event. Its fundamental purpose is to advocate for and support Ontario maple syrup producers through unified representation, education, networking, and marketing programs.

Product overview

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association (OMSPA) is a membership-based industry association rather than a software product company. The association provides a portfolio of educational resources, publications, and member services for maple syrup producers. Core offerings include instructional videos on tapping, plantation management, and sap collection; the quarterly Mainline newsletter covering production and marketing; downloadable guides on sugarhouse design, confection making, and regulations; and tools like the Cost of Production Model spreadsheet. The association also maintains informational resources on maple syrup regulations under Ontario law. All products and services are oriented toward supporting and educating maple syrup producers across Ontario's 11 local chapters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sweet Ontario: A members-only branding program that allows producers to promote and market their maple products under the Sweet Ontario label.

Products and services

• OMSPA Membership Program (Sweet Ontario branding)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 producers represented across 11 local chapters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• International Maple Syrup InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMSPA works with IMSI on international maple syrup standards, quality assurance, and industry promotion. Ray Bonenberg serves as the IMSI appointment on the OMSPA board.
• North American Maple Syrup Council (NAMSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrian Bainborough serves as NAMSC President and represents OMSPA. The Algoma chapter is hosting the 2026 NAMSC Conference in Sault Ste. Marie.
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMSPA works closely with OMAFRA on maple syrup regulations, production standards, and industry updates. OMAFRA specialists provide regular presentations at Info Days and workshops.
• Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAIN is collaborating with the Algoma Maple Syrup Producers' Association to deliver the 2026 NAMSC Conference workshops, tours, and industry sessions.
• Sault Saint Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSMIC provided financial support for the production of educational maple syrup videos by AMSP volunteers covering Backyard Sugaring, Maple Marketing, and Sap Collection.
• Dominion & GrimmsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer offering evaporators, R/Os, tubing, glass bottles, and packaging. Listed as a sponsor on the OMSPA website.
• CDL Maple Sugaring EquipmentsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer specializing in maple sugaring equipment including acquisitions of evaporator and distribution companies. Listed as a sponsor on the OMSPA website.
• H2O InnovationsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer offering complete maple syrup production equipment including the Super-Concentrator and H2O-Smartrek monitoring system. Listed as a sponsor on the OMSPA website.
• Lapierre EquipmentsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer with over 40 years of experience producing maple syrup equipment. Listed as a sponsor on the OMSPA website.
• LS BilodeausupportingTechnology or IntegrationSteel product manufacturer for maple sugaring equipment. Listed as a sponsor on the OMSPA website.
• Ontario Woodlot AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents private forest owners across Ontario, promoting forest stewardship and landowner education. Partnered with McGill University on national woodlot owner survey.
• Canadian Forest OwnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational voice of private forest owners in Canada, representing provincial associations and advancing policies for sustainable forest management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maine Maple Producers Association: Statewide trade group for Maine maple producers, providing education, promotion (Maine Maple Sunday), and advocacy. Comparable in scope to OMSPA, focused on a regional producer base in a distinct North American geography.
• Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association: State-level association serving Wisconsin maple producers with education, tours, and an annual Maple Weekend. Comparable in mission and structure to OMSPA, but serving a U.S. state with a smaller and growing industry.
• Les Producteurs et productrices acéricoles du Québec (Quebec Maple Syrup Producers): The Quebec federation that represents the province's maple syrup producers under a supply-management system with a strategic reserve. It is OMSPA's most direct functional peer — a producer-funded association governing quality, grading, and marketing — and the source of the imports that fill Ontario's 40% supply gap.
• New York State Maple Producers Association: Membership association representing New York's maple syrup producers with education, grading standards support, and the annual Maple Weekend promotion. Direct analogue to OMSPA's Maple Weekend and chapter-based structure in a neighboring U.S. state.
• New Hampshire Maple Producers Association: Trade association of New Hampshire maple producers offering similar membership, education, and promotional services. A smaller-scale analogue of OMSPA in another New England state.
• Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association: State-level association for maple producers in Vermont, the largest U.S. producing state. It offers the same membership, education, branding, and advocacy services as OMSPA but for a U.S. producer base, making it a structurally analogous peer.

Broad incumbents

• North American Maple Syrup Council (NAMSC): Continental council of maple producer associations, currently chaired by OMSPA's Brian Bainborough. NAMSC is a peer-governance body rather than a service provider, but it is the closest umbrella organization OMSPA participates in.
• International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI): International body governing maple syrup grading and standards across North America, on which OMSPA holds a board seat. A broader incumbent that sets the standards OMSPA members must follow, and a strategic partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture: Largest general-farm organization in Ontario, advocating for all Ontario farmers. A broad incumbent in the same provincial agriculture-advocacy space as OMSPA, but covering all commodities rather than specializing in maple.

Others

• Ontario Woodlot Association: Represents private forest owners across Ontario and partners with OMSPA on sugar bush and woodland stewardship issues. An adjacent ecosystem organization that shares member concerns around sustainable forest management but does not compete for the same primary mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OntarioMapleSyrup
• Xx.com/OntMapleSyrup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association