Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup - Iddpnql.ca

Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup
"Blending tradition with technology"
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg

6 octobre, 2011
Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
History of Awazibi Pure
Maple Syrup
Process
Products
Training
Markets
Challenges
Success
Future

6 octobre, 2011
Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
Communauté
Algonquin
140 km au nord
d’Ottawa
Population - 2800
Surface – 18,515 ha
Gestion de nos forêts
depuis les 30 dernières
années

6 octobre, 2011
History of Awazibi Pure Maple
Community decision 25 years ago
to actively manage the community
forest, which included setting
aside the intact stand of sugar
maples.
Over 10 years Awazibi Pure
Maple Syrup came into
production.
Initial funding INAC and
Aboriginal Business Canada –
50% of start-up cost
Covered the original infrastructure
costs, including a road into the
site and the building where the
evaporator is located Since initial
year, Awazibi Pure Syrup has
been self-sufficient
Syrup

Expanded to 17, 000 taps
Grew from 57 hectares to
90 hectares
The expansion necessitated
the installation 75 km of
food grade tubing and
extensions to the main
building, pumping station
and the addition of two
small shelters.
6 octobre, 2011
Expansion 2008
Forecasted Profit ($)
$120,000.00
120.00
$100,000.00
100.00
$80,000.00
Number of Work Weeks
$60,000.00
$40,000.00
$20,000.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
$0.00
0.00
71.05
Forecasted Profit with Expansion
Forecasted Profit Without Expansion
29.69
95.91
Awazibi Currently Expansion Project Awazibi After Planned
Expansion
Season 2009 Season 2010 Season 2011 Season 2012 Season 2013 Accumulated
Profit

6 octobre, 2011
Process Step 1: Tapping
Beginning of February-
Maintenance, repairs
and clean-up of tubing
and buildings
Mid-February –
Tapping begins
Syrup production is
highly dependant on
weather, usually
starting in March and
productions days vary
20-25 per season.

6 octobre, 2011
Process Step 2: Reverse Osmosis
Raw sap is vacuum drawn
through 3 pumping stations and
into two stainless steel reservoirs.
Careful calculation on sap flow
determines the start up time as to
avoid the stoppage of the
operation process (the need to
stop and wait for more sap).
Raw sap (containing
approximately 2% sugar is passed
through a reverse osmosis process
removing up to 75% of water.
The new concentrated sap now
has 4 times the sugar content and
it is pumped into a gravity fed
reservoir to the oil burned
evaporator.

6 octobre, 2011
Process Step 3: Extraction
The concentrated sap flows
through a set of pre heated pipes
built in the evaporator hood then
into the evaporator controlled by
float valves.
The evaporation process begins
soon after the reverse osmosis
process has begun.
The water in the sap is gradually
evaporated until the temperature
is 7°F above the boiling point of
water and it is automatically
drawn out by the preset auto-draw
off thermometer system.
Evaporators will produce
approximately 20 gallons per hour
of pure maple syrup.

6 octobre, 2011
Process Step 3: Quality Control
After a desired volume of
syrup is obtained in the
syrup bin, it is sent through
a Filter Press machine
removing all large mineral
deposits.
The clear filtered syrup is
then inspected by the brewer
to insure that the color and
flavor meets approval.

6 octobre, 2011
Process Step 4: Bottling
The syrup is then ready to be
stored into stainless steel drums,
or, sent to the bottling unit.
The bottling process follows strict
guidelines, e.g. temperature for
sterilization, proper handling,
hygiene, etc. as set forth by the
Canadian Food Inspection
Agency.
Approximately 10% of the syrup
is bottled during this period. The
remainder is stored in stainless
steel or plastic barrels.

6 octobre, 2011
Interesting Fact
Awazibi Pure Maple syrup
is a community owned and
run entity
Employees of Awazibi are
all Kitigan Zibi members
Is located entirely within the
common lands of the KZA
community
Each tap produces
approximately 2.1 pounds
per tap

70-80% Bulk Sale
Remainder of syrup
Bottles
6 octobre, 2011
250 ml
500 ml
1 Litre
4 Litre
Butter
Candy
Sugar
Products

The Natural Resource and
Wildlife Department has
offered 3 training sessions
for KZA community
members on production of
maple food products and
legislation which deals with
production of Maple syrup
and maple food products
To date 2 community
members have gone on to
create there own businesses of
maple food products.
Of course we had eager taste
testers!
6 octobre, 2011
Training

6 octobre, 2011
Certification
Canadian Food
Inspection Agency
Registration and
inspection of
establishment
Labeling and label
verification
Ontario Alcohol and
Gaming License

Local Market 10%
MSRO-Internet Co-op
Market (Gatineau, Qc)
10%
Bulk (La Fédération des
producteurs acéricoles
du Québec) 80%
6 octobre, 2011
Markets

Human Resources
6 octobre, 2011
Challenges
Finding employees willing to work long and variable hours with the
right work experience or expertise
Managing of Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup, currently falls under the
responsibility of the Forester. Does not get full-time attention required
for marketing and distribution.
Labour Code – Pertaining to issuance of overtime and
statutory holidays
Difficult to predict production , since so weather dependant.
Lack of entrepreneurs willing to develop products on their
own.
Lack of knowledge concerning marketing and distribution.

Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup is a
self-sustaining, profitable
community owned company.
Creation of 7-12 seasonal
employees plus bottling
Community pride and ownership
Increase community participation
Ceremonial Tapping Ceremony
Opening and closing ceremony
done by community elder with
school children invited
Community Pancake Breakfast
Annual event which feeds
approximately 900 people, free
for community members
6 octobre, 2011
Success To Date

Access International Market
United States
6 octobre, 2011
Future???
Native American communities ie, casino etc.
Asia and Europe
Contacts have been made and interest shown with Ambassadors from
France, China and others
On-Reserve Café
Sale of maple syrup, maple food products and baked goods etc.
Potential Expansion to 25, 000 taps
Employ full-time employee to oversee management, marketing
and distribution of Awazibi pure Maple Syrup products

6 octobre, 2011
Kichi Megwetch!
If you have questions please do not hesitate
to contact us directly at
linda.dwyer@kza.qc.ca