At Coombs Family Farms, our journey begins with a tree. In the spring, as the snow begins to fade, we follow the footsteps of our great-great-grandparents and tap maple trees; some that have stood on our land for more than 300 years. Over that span of time, we did more than produce exceptional maple products for people across the country; we embraced the mission of sustainability. As a family maple farm, we are deeply committed to providing sustainability for both our fellow maple farmers and our environment.

From our location in Vermont, Coombs Family Farms has become the largest pure maple syrup supplier in the United States. Within the maple syrup industry, we take on many roles in support of other small independent maple farmers. While we continue to farm our own land and produce our own maple syrup and maple products, we also source maple from hundreds of small family farms that share our vision of sustainable agriculture. This vision includes a focus on high-quality products, environmental protection, and sustainable forestry management.

You may wonder what all this means to you? If you love the taste of maple, buying our products gives you an opportunity to support independent family owned farms. And small farms play a big role in sustainable food production that positively impacts our environment, economy, and our natural resources.

Maple farming and environmental sustainability

Independent maple farms simply could not exist without proper care of our forests. Coombs Family Farms became a steward of the forest  in the mid-1800’s and we’ve continued to build on that dedication ever since. In cooperation with a solid network of 8,000 other committed maple farmers, we preserve our maple forests, keep the land free from sprawl, and help protect animals and plant species that need large intact pieces of the forest to thrive.

So, how do we produce our maple products without harming the environment? In our sustainable forest management  plan, we adhere to strict tapping standards, and rely on energy efficient technology to minimize our environmental footprint. For example, Coombs Family Farms is the first maple producer to use reverse osmosis, cutting our energy consumption by 75%. We also use low impact vacuum tubing to transport sap from thousands of trees into one large central tank. Not only does this protect the delicate and fragile tree roots, it also allows vegetation to grow freely on the forest grounds since we aren’t travelling by road to collect the sap. We don’t use chemical pesticides and fertilizers and all of our cleaning processes are QAI organic certified to minimize the risk of contamination for our soil, equipment, and groundwater.

Our practices help to ensure that organic maple farms will exist well into our the future, and that our maple trees will still stand for many future generations to come. This is good news for our economy.

Providing educational resources for maple farmers

Many rural economies, especially in Vermont, depend on maple farming. This practice, often passed down through generations of maple farmers, is an important aspect of our community character. And while maple farming is deeply rewarding, it is not easy.

Continued education is essential for the growth of maple farming. Coombs Family Farms offers an annual Open House and free training seminars for the maple farming community. Seminar topics include responsible tree tapping, maple forest management, energy efficient reverse osmosis technology, low-impact vacuum tubing usage, and tips for producing maple sugars and candies that can help boost profit levels.

We believe that if we can help to expand the maple category for our fellow family maple farms, through new markets or new initiatives, we can do our part to strengthen our local economy. This support benefits all of us in the long run, allowing independent maple farms to continue the production of maple syrups and maple products that we love.

Buying real maple syrup from real maple farms

In a world filled with big brands, and food products made from industrial agriculture, it is refreshing to get back to basics. With Coombs Family Farms products, you know that our only ingredient is 100% pure maple syrup. Always remember that real maple syrup will never have any other ingredient; no HFCS, no GMOs, [link to: GetReal HFCS page TBD] nothing artificial. When you buy real maple syrup, you know how it was made, as well as the tradition behind it. Imitation syrups just can’t deliver on that promise.

If you’d like to get to know our maple farmers a bit better, please take the time to meet them . Also please feel free to check out our detailed product pages, or our Maple Kitchen  for the latest maple news and recipes. If you’d like to contact us directly with questions, please email us or call us at 888.266.6271.

Kick off the day with a hearty breakfast

Start your holiday off right with a delicious homemade breakfast made with maple syrup. There are thousands of breakfast recipes made with maple syrup that you can find online—from baked French toast casseroles to scones, and everything in between. One of the best ingredients to pair with maple syrup is banana, so why not try our Banana Maple Walnut Muffins? They’ll fill your entire house with mouthwatering aroma and fill your belly with a delicious and hearty meal. Rather than using regular sugar as a sweetener, maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor that enhances the richness of the muffins. Not only does maple syrup taste better than sugar, but with its heart-healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, it’s better for you. These muffins are practically your morning multivitamin!

Side dish recipes with maple syrup: always a hit

Side dishes are an important part of every holiday, and they can be every bit as memorable as the main dish when you add some maple syrup.

Pumpkin and maple are a classic pairing that make for exceptional dishes. At your next holiday meal, why not try something different? Our Pumpkin Maple Risotto  made with sautéed yellow onion, white wine, chicken stock, pumpkin, maple syrup, Parmesan and nutmeg will have everyone going for second helpings.

Another vegetable that always pairs well with maple syrup is the carrot, and Maple Glazed Carrots  are a simple yet elegant side dish that everyone will enjoy. The holiday can be hectic so it’s nice to have a dish or two that require only a few ingredients and minimal preparation.

The main event

For the main dish, Maple Glazed Ham  is a no-frills meal that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare. When you use high quality ingredients like Coombs Family Farms maple syrup as a glaze rather than traditionally-used brown sugar, the outcome will be nothing short of fabulous. This particular recipe is delicious enough to become an annual tradition, so try it out this holiday season.

Finally, what would the holidays be without dessert?

A holiday meal without dessert just wouldn’t be complete. Maple syrup is ideal for so many types of foods, but dessert might very well take the cake. Everyone loves pecan pie, but when it is a Vermont Maple Pecan Pie  with maple syrup and rum, it is truly a beautiful thing. The richness of this treat is perfectly balanced and it is a great way to end a wonderful meal. Don’t be surprised if your guests ask to get the recipe for this one!

• 6 large ripe peaches, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup CFF maple sugar
• Juice from half a lemon
• 1 T flour
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 1/3 c milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Toss peaches, sugar, juice, flour together in 9X13 baking pan.  Set aside.

Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl.  Using a fork or pastry cutter, add butter until incorporated. Stir in milk.  Drop batter in spoonfuls on top of peach mixture.  Sprinkle remaining 2 T sugar on top.  Bake in middle of oven for 20 minutes or until peaches are soft and bubbling, dough is browned.

Grilled Peaches with Maple Cardamom Cream recipe from New Frontiers in California.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup heavy cream, chilled
• 2 T pure maple syrup
• ¼ tsp. ground cardamom
• 4 firm but ripe peaches
• Vegetable oil for brushing
• 1 T sugar (or maple sugar)

Whip cream with maple syrup and cardamom until soft peaks form.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat grill to medium heat.  Halve the peaches and remove the pits.  Brush all over with a light coating of oil.  Sprinkle the cut sides with the sugar.  Place the peach halves cut side down on the grill grate.  Cover and cook for about 2 minutes.  Uncover, turn peaches a quarter turn and cook about 3 minutes longer, until they have softened but still hold their shape.  Remove peaches from grill to individual plate or bowls.  Top with whipped cream.

Yield: 4 servings

All maple syrup grades are determined by color. There are five USDA maple grades, including three Grade A’s (light amber maple, medium amber maple, dark amber maple) and two darker syrups, Grade B maple and a commercial maple grade. Not unlike wine, all have distinct flavors and tones. Contrary to popular belief, maple syrup grades do not indicate a difference in quality or purity. When buying maple, choose the right grade for what you intend to use it for – and pair it with. As a rule, the darker the color, the stronger the pure maple flavor.

Grade A Light Amber – A very delicate maple flavor

Grade A Medium Amber – A stronger, yet mild maple flavor

Grade A Dark Amber – Robust maple flavor, great for cooking, grilling, and on oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, glazes, etc

Grade B – The heartiest maple grade, and a perfect ‘secret ingredient’ for adding deep, dark flavor tones and subtle sweetness to your favorite gourmet recipes.

No reason to wait till the 24th to enjoy waffles!  These recipes are proof, waffles are good anytime of the day. Emeril Lagasse’s Waffle Iron Reuben Sandwich could be your next lunch.  For dinner, we have you covered there with Serious Eats Maple Sausage Breakfast Casserole.  Need another dinner option?  What about (fried) chicken and waffles?  If you are not already familiar with this dish, check out all the locations where it is commonplace.

Want a simple buttermilk recipe for breakfast, Add a Pinch is happy to help us oblige. Just visit this site for recipe.

Photo credit AddaPinch.com.

Photo from Lovenordic Design Blog.

Thank you to our friend Gary Jue at Valley Fig for taking the above pictures.