What they call their work
What they do
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Management of organizational governance and structureManages governance through a board of directors and executive committee, including the formal chartering of the organization in both the U.S. and Canada, the adoption of bylaws, and leadership appointments.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Organization and facilitation of industry meetings and stakeholder cooperationHosts an annual general meeting and gala dinner, organizes five open meetings annually, and maintains 10–12 active working committees to enable collaboration among maple industry stakeholders and address current issues.
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
- Provision of member resources and technical supportProvides members with access to industry news bulletins, meeting summaries, technical resources, and thousands of maple-based food recipes to support engagement and knowledge sharing.
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Uncategorized 5 activities
- Advocacy for maple industry economic viability and trade interestsAdvocates at the binational and international level for the economic viability of the maple industry, including through submissions to government officials in Canada, the United States, and Mexico to support tariff-free trade under USMCA, and by promoting the competitiveness and success of the industry through a unified strategic vision.
- Development and harmonization of maple syrup grading and labeling standardsCollaborates with regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada to establish and modernize a standardized grading system and labeling requirements for pure maple syrup, including securing a CODEX listing to protect authenticity and prevent mislabeling in global markets.
- Funding and support of maple producer education and quality programsFunds the International Maple Grading School, which has trained over 1,000 producers since 2008, and supports educational courses at the University of Vermont and University of Maine to promote consistent, high-quality production; maintains a Quality Program active for over 30 years.
- Improvement of maple syrup production data and statisticsCollaborates with the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to simplify and improve the accuracy of annual maple syrup production surveys and promote producer participation to enhance market insights.
- Support of scientific research on maple syrupConducts and supports research on the phytonutrients and biological effects of pure maple syrup, including funding multiple published studies and an ongoing clinical nutrition study on its cardiometabolic benefits as a functional food.
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Who runs it
- Bruce Bascom — Director
- David Campbell — Director
- Fred Ahrens — Director
- Steve Anderson — Director
Who they work with
- Aiken Maple Research Lab Partner — Collaborated with founding leadership of IMSI, contributing expertise in maple research.
- Arnot Research Forest Partner — Collaborates on maple research, development, and technology transfer
- CFIA Government — Partners with the IMSI on food safety and regulatory compliance for maple products.
- Centre ACER Partner — Collaborates on maple research, development, and technology transfer
- Cornell Maple Program Partner — Collaborates on content sharing, with photo contributions used in educational materials.
- Cornell Maple Program Partner — Provides photographic materials and likely collaborates on educational or research initiatives related to maple syrup production.
- Cornell Sugar Maple Program Partner — Collaborates on educational and outreach initiatives related to maple syrup production.
- Cornell University Maple Program Partner — Collaborates on maple research, development, and technology transfer
- Dominion Grimm Partner — Golden sponsor for 2026
- EPA Government — Collaborates with the IMSI on environmental regulations impacting maple syrup production.
- Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers Partner — Provides photo content and likely collaborates on educational materials about maple syrup production.
- Federation of Québec Maple Syrup Producers Partner — Shares photographic and promotional content for educational use on cooking with maple syrup.
- Health Canada Government — Works with the IMSI on regulatory and public health issues related to maple syrup.
- Indigenous peoples of Northeastern North America Partner — Recognizes Indigenous peoples as original producers of maple syrup and acknowledges their historical role in teaching early colonists how to tap maple trees.
- NASS Partner — Works with NASS to simplify the USDA maple statistics annual survey and improve producer participation for accurate data collection.
- Normandy Group Partner — Provides lobbying and monitoring services to support IMSI's engagement with government and regulatory bodies.
- Our Members Network — Includes maple producers, transformers, distributors, equipment manufacturers, and research and education institutions as members.
- Quebec Maple Producers Network — Collaborates with the International Maple Syrup Institute Inc in promoting and supporting the maple industry.
- Québec Department of Agriculture Government — Collaborated with the Québec Department of Agriculture in forming the organization.
- USDA Government — Collaborates with the IMSI on regulatory and policy matters affecting the maple industry.
- USDA Government — Partnered with the USDA for research funding and collaboration.
- USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Government — Collaborates to enhance the accuracy of maple syrup production data
- UVM Proctor Maple Research Center Partner — Partners with the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, which provides research support and photo content.
- UVM Proctor Maple Research Center Partner — Partnership involving research and educational support for the maple industry.
- University of Maine Partner — Collaborates on maple research, development, and technology transfer
- University of Maine Partner — Collaborates to deliver educational courses for maple producers on high-quality production methods.
- University of Rhode Island Partner — Collaborates with researchers at the University of Rhode Island on studies of maple syrup's phytonutrients.
- University of Vermont Partner — Collaborates to deliver educational courses for maple producers on high-quality production methods.
- University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center Partner — Collaborates on maple research, development, and technology transfer
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Binational Stakeholder Collaboration 15 orgsmethodology: binational_collaborationBy fostering collaboration between U.S. and Canadian maple industry participants, the organization strengthens collective problem-solving and policy influence, because cross-border coordination is essential for addressing shared ecological and market challenges.shared approach: Education-Driven Engagement →
- Market-Based Conservation Through Consumer Choice 15 orgsmethodology: market-based_conservationBy promoting pure maple syrup as a sustainable and nutritionally superior sweetener, the organization drives consumer demand that supports forest conservation and small-scale producers, because purchasing behavior can incentivize environmentally responsible land use.shared approach: Education-Driven Engagement →
- Research-Driven Industry Innovation 15 orgsmethodology: research_and_development_partnershipsBy partnering with research institutions, the organization transfers scientific knowledge and technological advancements to producers, because integrating R&D into production practices increases efficiency and long-term sustainability.shared approach: Education-Driven Engagement →
- Collaborative Advocacy for Policy and Sustainabilitymethodology: collaborative_advocacyBy uniting industry stakeholders and aligning resources, the organization advances economic viability and influences regulatory outcomes on issues like climate change and sustainability, because collective action amplifies political and public impact.
- Member-Driven Governance and Knowledge Sharingmethodology: member_collaborative_modelBy engaging members in governance and community learning, the organization strengthens industry cohesion and innovation, because inclusive decision-making and peer networks enhance trust, adoption of best practices, and collective resilience.