Two Massachusetts maple syrup producers took honors at an annual international maple products contest, held this year in Wolfville, Nova Scotia at the annual meetings of the North American Maple Syrup Council and International Maple Syrup Institute. Sugarmakers from the United States and Canada entered their maple syrup, candy and cream to have them judged based on flavor, color, clarity and density.
Massachusetts came away from the October contest with more awards than any other maple producing state or province, and was the only state represented among the winners in all three of the Grade A syrup categories. The winners from Massachusetts were:
- Grade A Light Amber Maple Syrup: Paul’s Sugarhouse, Haydenville, 2nd place
- Grade A Medium Amber Maple Syrup: Paul’s Sugarhouse, Haydenville, 3rd place
- Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup: Paul’s Sugarhouse, Haydenville, 3rd place
- Maple Candy: Boyden Brothers Maple, Conway, 2nd place
- Maple Cream: Boyden Brothers Maple, Conway, 2nd place
“These awards show what many Massachusetts consumers and restaurants have known for a long time,” said Massachusetts Maple Producers Association Coordinator Winton Pitcoff. “There’s no substitute for Massachusetts maple products! Sugarmakers in Massachusetts make the highest quality maple products, using traditional and modern production methods.”
Pure Massachusetts maple syrup is fat-free and all-natural, with fewer calories than most other sweeteners and minerals, antioxidants and amino acids not found in other sweeteners. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in cooking and baking, as well as as a topping.
There are more than 250 maple sugaring operations in Massachusetts, many of which sell their products directly to consumers at farmstands and farmers markets. A directory of sugarmakers who sell maple products to the public can be found at www.massmaple.org. The 2014 sugaring season was excellent, and Massachusetts maple producers made about 61,000 gallons of 100% pure maple syrup.
The Massachusetts Maple Producers Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of maple sugaring in Massachusetts.