(Bloomberg News) – Pancake fans need not be alarmed. The OPEC plans to tap into its maple syrup sticky stockpile in order to replenish the shortage.

The organization, Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, said it is draining nearly 50 million pounds of syrup from barrels in its strategic reserve, about half its stockpile and the most since 2008.

The amount being released is equal to more than a third of this year’s harvest in the French-speaking Canadian province, the world’s top supplier. Output plunged 24% this year following a warmer and shorter spring harvest as overseas demand soared, according to the group.

“We need to produce more maple syrup,” spokeswoman Helene Normandin said in a phone interview. “The reserve is there to make sure that we are always able to sell and offer this product.”

Quebec accounts for more than 70% of world maple syrup production and its supply is governed by a kind of government-sanctioned cartel. Quebec Maple Syrup Producers sets bulk prices, caps production and sends unsold output to a warehouse in Laurierville, Quebec, allowing the agency a level of market control rivaling the grip the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has on oil markets. 

“The pandemic helped in our case because we’re seeing people cook more at home and use more local products,’’ Normandin said. “It’s not just in Quebec the demand is increasing.’’

The export sales rose by 21% between January-September to 113.5million pounds. This is a 21% increase over the previous year. The group will allow Quebec syrup producers to increase their production by 7 million taps next year in order to meet rising demand. ​​​​

The time frame for maple syrup production is short and the “sugaring season” typically occurs between late February and end of April as tree sap is only able to flow when the daytime temperatures alternate between freezing and thawing. The harvest season was cut short by warm temperatures in Quebec. The agency had to raise the number of tree taps, in order to reduce black market sales and preserve market share. In recent years, American producers have sought to improve their production. Quebec farmers expressed dissatisfaction with the limitations in their production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that maple syrup production declined 17% in this year’s United States to 3.42 millions gallons, while taps increased 2% compared with a previous year.

The reserve, which was the scene of a notorious heist uncovered in 2012, hasn’t been tapped in three years thanks to back-to-back bumper harvests.

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