In two weeks, March 14-15 and the weekend after, March 21-22 is the 57th Annual Highland Maple Festival. Take a step back in time to Highland County, “Virginia’s Sweet Spot”. Held on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of March, the Maple Festival has been an annual event in Highland County, Virginia, since 1958. Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life. The Highland Maple Festival was designated a “Local Legacy” by the Library of Congress in 1999.At The Virginia Marketplace we have chosen to use maple syrup from Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard, located on Route 637 (Maple Sugar Road), southwest of Blue Grass, Virginia in Highland County in our gift baskets and gift boxes.
Recently we read some interesting facts about Maple Syrup on a Food Network Blog. We all already know maple syrup has a natural caramel sweetness. But did you know, it is actually good for you! Pure maple syrup is not only high in antioxidants, but every spoonful offers nutrients like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. The sap has complex components that are things we also need to stay healthy, just like the trees. According to Helen Thomas of the New York State Maple Association, maple syrup has a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants, yet fewer calories than honey. Other than jazzing up whole grain pancakes and homemade waffles, how can you get more maple syrup in your diet? Try using maple syrup as a sweetener for coffee, tea (both hot and iced) in homemade sodas and lemonades. It works great to brighten up roasted autumn veggies like acorn or butternut squash, frozen organic berries, breakfast oatmeal or hot cereal, soups, salmon, chicken, ham, pulled pork, roast turkey, and is a perfect substitute for honey in salad dressings.
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