Quebec Maple Syrup Mafia. Sell Syrup and go to Jail

http://ift.tt/1NdGRD0

Quote:

Since 1990 Syrup Producers have been legally required to hand over the bulk of what they produce to the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (which in French-speaking Quebec is abbreviated to FPAQ). Backed by the Canadian civil courts, the federation has the monopoly for selling Quebecois maple syrup on the wholesale market, and for exporting it outside the province. It sets the price for how much it pays producers, and it charges them a 12% fee per pound of syrup. Producers are only allowed to sell independently a very small amount of syrup, to visitors to their farm, or to their local supermarket. And then they still have to pay the 12% commission to the FPAQ.

Some producers are 'Bootlegging' Syrup across the boarder in to other provinces to sell.

Farfmers that aren't in compliance can have their entire production seized and can go to jail.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1Q2HWkU