In our Clean Label series, we've already written about "Is 'Natural' Healthier?". Now, let's look at the terms "all-natural" and "naturally-flavored" themselves. For us here at Coombs Family Farms, what makes us see red is when food producers use the word “maple” to describe their product when there is not…
Aloe & Maple Face Mask
This isn't something we've tried, but bloggers here (with videos!) and here report excellent results with this face mask. It stands to reason—maple syrup has known quantities of plant-based antioxidents known as polyphenols. In addition, maple syrup is hygroscopic, meaning that it attracts and retains moisture in skin. Maple syrup also increases…
Clean Labels: Do You Know What These Ingredients Are?
Take a look at the label on the right. Do you know what all those ingredients are? Some are just fancy names for common substances that you already know of, like Pyridoxine Hydrochloride. Sounds pretty bad, right? You know it as Vitamin B6, which is required for the proper function…
Clean Labels: Is “Natural” Really Healthier?
Paracelsus said, "The dose makes the poison." By this, he meant that virtually any substance is "toxic" (meaning, causing death) in sufficient quantities. This holds true for common substances, many of which are essential to life in the proper quantities. Even water and oxygen are "toxic" in large doses. So to…
Maple Syrup: The “Clean Label” Sweetener
There is a growing trend in the food industry toward “clean” labels. The term is s nebulous one, but in general, “clean labeling” refers to the response by food manufacturers to consumer demand for simple, easy-to-understand ingredient lists on products. ““We see consumers getting more assertive about what they expect…
Arnold Explains the Sugaring Process to Viewers of America’s Heartland
Arnold appeared on season 5, episode 2 of America's Heartland, a weekly public television series celebrating our nation's agriculture. You can watch this segment below:
UVM To Serve Vermont Maple Syrup
Redressing an embarrassing fact, The University of Vermont now serves real Vermont maple syrup in its dining halls. Citing cost, Sodexo, the company with the dining hall contract at the university, had previously only offered the fake stuff to students. Fortunately, the Proctor Maple Research Center, a field research facility…
Maple Syrup as an Anti-Inflammatory
We've reported on this issue before, but below is a link to the study that appeared appeared in the Journal of Functional Foods, a peer-review journal that "aims to bring together the results of fundamental and applied research into functional foods (ie those containing various factors to ensure or enhance…
Holiday Shipping Schedule
With the holidays approaching, we wanted to let customers know our schedule. With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, be sure to leave enough time for your gifts to get from Alstead, NH, to your destination. Below is a map indicating the last possible days to order in time…
Molly Wizenberg Uses Our Maple Syrup for Morning Waffles
Bon Appetit columnist, published author, and popular blogger known as "Orangette" to thousands (tens of thousands?) uses our maple syrup! One of the recipes she posted with the above pictures... A Great Make-the-Morning-of Waffle Adapted slightly from the “Waffle of Insane Greatness” recipe The original version of this recipe calls…