Tretap

Tretap
pristine water from vermont’s maple trees

Do you know where your bottled water comes from? as in, exactly where? which state? what town? Probably not.

Well, now you can buy water and know exactly where it comes from – the organic maple trees on Branon’s West View Maples. Yes, you read correctly – water from maple trees. Here’s where is gets even cooler.

These maple trees are tapped for their sap to make maple syrup. In the process the sap, which is what is used to make maple syrup, gets separated from the tree water. Up until now, sugar makers have been discarding this water. What a brilliant idea? Save that tree water, sell it and give the maple syrup makers another source of revenue.

And don’t worry, the water has been through a couple filters and a reverse osmosis machine before getting bottled. RIght now there are three flavors:

• Blueberry
• Cranberry
• Cucumber

At 10 calories and 5 grams of sugar a serving, this tree water is a great made in Vermont alternative to other bottled waters. Look for a new carbonated line called Vermont Tapped coming soon.

We think this is a win win win. A win for the maple sugar makers, a win for water drinkers and a win for Vermont.

Learn more about the Tretap story here  or, better get, buy a bottle at the stores listed here.

On the 12th day of Vermont Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me

12 Deals a waiting

11 Darns a toughing

10 Mustard munchies

9 Wallets penning

8 Meals a training

7 Skida sporting

6 Girls a coding

5 Peanut Butters

4 Douglas Sweets

3 Red Kite’s

2 Laughing Moons

and a Fat Toad in a Maple Tree

big picture farm

big picture farm
a vermont goat dairy & farmstead confectionery

Based in Townsend, Big Picture Farm is the home to almost 30 Saanens, Alpines and floppy-eared Nubians. Yes, we’re talking goats and these lucky guys get to roam freely around the farm eating what’s in season. Imagine their diet:

Spring – wild chocolate mint, clover, honeysuckle and other wildflowers
Summer – legumes and beans
Fall – crisp oak leaves, apples and ferns
Winter – white pine and hemlock saplings

And of course some premium local hay.

This varied and flavorful diet translates into milk that is “exceptionally floral and creamy” that is used to make:

– farmstead goat milk caramels
– small batch cheeses

Louisa and Lucas, the owners of Big Picture Farm, don’t mess around – their product list may be short, but their press and  award list is long:

– 2013 Good Food Awards winner
– 2012 SOFI Award for Outstanding Confection
– 2012 USDA Value-Added Producer Grant
– 2011 Winner of the BDCC/Strolling of the Heifers/Farm Business Plan Competition

And Louisa and Lucas aren’t just farmers. They’re also artists. Learn more about them and their journey on their blog, “Farm Weather”.

With their charming logo, packaging and commitment to their mission, Big Picture Farm is a farm to celebrate and support.

They get the big picture.

gredio

gredio
software applications for food companies

Remember Green Mountain Mustard? Well, founder/owner Michael Adams has started another company offering an app for food companies called Gredio. It’s a way for food producers to keep track of and control:

• recipes
• inventory
• product costs
• production schedules
• production history
• invoices
• lot tracking of ingredients

It even has 8 calculators that help figure out:

• ingredient costs
• labor rates
• transportation costs
• retail price

Just to name a few. Take a look at their one minute video.

This app from Gredio is the perfect solution for:

• value-added food producers
• home bakers
• co-packing kitchens

So for all those “made in vermont” food producers/home bakers and those beyond our state, why not try Gredio’s new app to help organize your business, become more efficient and make more sales?

It’s free.

p.s. Gredio recently won the LaunchVT competition for young entrepreneurs.

buy local. buy vermont.

This great infographic says it all.

Click to Enlarge Image

Why Buying Local is Worth Every Cent Infographic by CustomMade

vert mont perfumery

Vert Mont Perfumery
artisanal botanical perfumes

Based in the Mad River Valley, Vert Mont Perfumery makes fragrances that are designed, blended and bottled by hand. Their perfumes are made from pure organic plant essences from around the world. Each fragrance is blended to compliment a specific human experience:

• SOMA (body) – surrender to lightness of being  (pink grapefruit, fresh ginger, petitgrain bigarade, amyris & high elevation lavender)
• PSYCHE (mind) – heady intrigue & effortless travel (lemon peel, ginger lilly, clary sage, himalayan cedar & bergamot)
• EROS (desire) – An elegant notion of a love potion (mandarin, coriander, orris root, patchouli, juniper & jasmine)
• ANIMA (soul) – instinctually sensual. unleash your possibilities. (persian lime, spikenard, melissa, frankincense & ylang ylang)
• COR (heart) – tune into core emotions (sweet orange, vetiver, rosewood, cypress & moroccan rose absolute)

How can you not love the names and each tag line? So clever. These perfumes have no synthetics and Vert Mont Perfumery is committed to being environmentally friendly as well. Each perfume comes in a Miron Violet Glass bottle with a Biostone label in a hand stamped canvas bag for sleek, minimal packaging that is all recyclable or reusable.

Visit VMP’s Facebook page and website for background stories and more day to day activity. Currently available at the Warren Store in Warren Vermont, Proud Flower in Waterbury and more to come.

Vert Mont Perfumery is one to watch – with Mother’s Day around the corner, how about a bottle?

vermont sail freight project

the vermont sail freight project
farm to plate, powered by sail

Created by Erik Andrus, a farmer in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, The Vermont Sail Freight Project is a carbon neutral transport initiative connecting the farms and forests of Vermont with the lower Hudson Valley. Bringing our amazing made in Vermont products all the way to the big Apple on a boat? YES! How Vermont is that?

This boat  will bring that made in Vermont, natural freshness right down the river to the lucky consumers in New York City and all carbon neutral. What a great idea. Not new, just great to be going back to our roots.

And this sailing barge won’t be coming back to Vermont empty. It’ll be filled with goods. Yes, we do make a lot of what we need in Vermont except for maybe a handful of staples such as olive oil, chocolate, sugar and coffee, to name a few. Carbon neutral up the river they’ll come.

This is a win-win and one to watch.

And by the way, Erik’s a rice farmer and a lot more. Check out Vermont Rice, Boundbrook Farm & Good Companion Bakery. No need to be putting any rice or bread on that sailing barge as it heads north again.

smugglers’ notch distillery

Smugglers’ Notch Distillery
Vermont’s Mountain Spirit…Smuggle some home today!

Award winning Smugglers’ Notch Distillery makes premium spirits right here in Vermont. This father and son team originally started with just vodka, but now offer:

• Smugglers’ Notch Vodka – made from winter wheat, corn and Vermont spring water
• Smugglers’ Notch Rum – premium single-barrel extra aged amber rum, aged the fourth year in bourbon barrels
• Smugglers’ Notch Gin, Blend No. 802 – true distilled gin hand-crafted in small batches

…and stay tuned for the spring launch of their latest offering – bourbon!

Our favorite quote from their rave reviews:

“The bottom line is that Smugglers’ Notch Distillery makes a damn fine cocktail gin of the classic London Dry style. If you are a serious New England locavore and classic cocktail afficionado, this gin belongs on your bar.” (from the Foodie Pilgrim Review)

Ever wonder how Smugglers’ Notch got it’s name? Smugglers. Literally. Back in the 1800’s and then again in the 1920’s during prohibition smugglers would use the mountain pass to move goods and liquor from Canada into the US.

No need to be smuggling anymore. You can buy from Smugglers’ Notch Distillery direct at the Distillery or at any of these fine stores.

k.d. hill knitwear

K.D. Hill Knitwear
hand loomed knitwear made in vermont

Looking for an original hat no one else has? And one that’s made in Vermont? Well, look no further than K.D. Hill Knitwear.

With colorful designs and a variety of styles, there will be one for you! You’ll find:

• cuff hats
• flat top hats
• round top hats
• mittens
• headbands

Even a line for babies and children ranging from adorable, cozy, colorful hats and mittens to sweaters. You can have a Danforth Pewter button added to a hat if you’d like – making them great made in Vermont baby gifts.

Worth noting is that this is a one woman show! K.D. Hill herself makes every single item! You can buy directly on her website or at any of these retailers.

green mountain mustard

Green Mountain Mustard
Gourmet Mustard Made in the Mountains of Vermont

These are no ordinary mustards. Not only are they rich and creamy, they’re also made in Vermont using local ingredients:

• Eggs from local family farm
• Butter from Vermont Cabot Coop farmers
• Maple syrup from local  farms
• Yellow mustard seeds from Clear Brook Farm in Shaftsbury

Every one of their flavors are distinct and delicious:

• Barn Burner
• Garlic Oregano
• Sweet Hot (original flavor)
• Wholegrain Mustard
• Horseradish

The Green Mountain Mustard story is similar to other made in Vermont products that got their start at local farmer’s markets – at their second market they sold their 24 jars in less than 30 minutes! That was in 2010. Today you can find their mustards in over 70 stores nationwide.

Dip pretzels in their mustard, smother your meats or fish with their mustard, use it in salad dressings or in any of these recipes! Good mustard can be used in so many ways!

How can you not switch over to Green Mountain Mustard? And turn on someone else while you’re at it. Can you say party gift? stocking stuffer?