Spring is the sweetest time of the year! Even through this is the season to don your rain boots and share in a sugar shack meal around a a table dressed in a pretty checkered tablecloth, you can also enjoy maple deliciousness year-round! Not only are these much-loved products locally produced, you can also choose to buy organic!
The aim of organic producers
By adopting sound practices, organic producers work hard to maintain a healthy environment and ensure sustainability. They make it a priority to reduce soil degradation and erosion , as well as pollution. In short, they protect the environment through careful management and production practices. They also apply these principles to all the processing and handling methods they use.
Characteristics of organic maple syrup
To be certified organic, a maple syrup producer must submit to annual inspections to ensure that they are following certain regulations. For example, livestock is not permitted in a sugar bush and it is strictly forbidden to use poison as a form of pest control. Unlike for conventional maple syrup production, cream and milk cannot be used as a defoaming agent; the only permitted defoamers are organic oil or striped maple. In addition, organic producers must carefully document at all stages of production.
TThere are many differences in both the production and processing of organic and non-organic maple syrup, not to mention the fact that organic producers are also concerned with protecting the environment and soil.
Maple products
You can find quite a variety of organic maple products, and they are all equally delicious. Of course, there is maple syrup, which is good with everything. I can never resist drizzling it on a serving of homemade bread pudding! I also sometimes replace cane sugar with maple sugar when I make muffins, I love to spread maple butter on my toast and serve vanilla panna cotta with maple jelly. I adore all things maple!
How about you, what is your favourite maple product?
Reference: https://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Regions/ChaudièreAppalaches/Espaceconferences/Ecocert-DoccomplemJA17.pdf (accessed 27-01-2020)
