Page 12 - Spring2010

Letters

was found in maple syrup, about twenty of all, it has a low glycemic index; the Our bodies assimilate these nutrients
years ago, and then the practice was pancreas does not flood the system with much more readily from fresh produce
banned in Canada about ten years ago. insulin after the consumption of maple than from commercial supplements.
The FDA and state agriculture depart- syrup. It is metabolized more slowly and It appears that exposure to “insect
ments enforce this in the U.S. by routine, evenly which also means this sugar is pressure” increases the amount of these
random testing of maple syrup. There- okay for diabetics in small amounts. important nutrients in produce by up to
fore, if you are purchasing maple syrup Take part in history, take care of 30 percent. With the routine spraying
made in the U.S., know that it is free of your body and support farming by con- on commercial farms, be they chemical
formaldehyde. suming maple syrup instead of refined or commercial organic, these pest pres-
It’s also important to purchase syrup sugar. sures do not occur. On ecological farms,
from the U.S. to support our producers. Caroline Foote most pest control is through the plant’s
If you take a look at most maple syrup Cobleskill, New York own immune system. Spraying is mini-
in your local grocery store, the syrup mal. Living soil organisms, maximized
generally comes from Canada, definitely Caroline is the Schoharie County Chap- in ecological farming but lost or ignored
not local. And, even though that syrup ter Leader and co-owner of Maple Hill in other types of farming, create the best
may be labeled natural or pure, you have Farm, Cobleskill, New York. soil and provide plants access to soil
no guarantee. The best way to purchase nutrients. Eco-Ag produce may excede
syrup is to find a producer, USDA nutritional standards
call them up, or visit their web by 30 percent, making every
site and get to know them and bite more nutrient dense!
how they make maple syrup. The best source of
Make sure they are a fam- produce of this quality has
ily farm and then you really been small, local, ecologi-
know you are getting the real cally managed farms, that is
thing! farms using no toxic chemi-
Maple syrup is only pro- cal inputs plus ensuring soil
duced in northeastern U.S. nutrients balanced via Albre-
and Canada, and all farms in cht or similar systems. The
that region boiled the sweet easiest way to be assured of
sap at one time or another. a good supply of the freshest
It was used in trade and was local high-mineral, high-
a precious commodity. Most phytonutrient produce has
of the producers still around today are been by joining a Community Supported
farmers who can trace their maple syrup Agriculture (CSA) farm.
heritage back for five generations or so, FAKE CSAs Unfortunately, looking through
like us. Recent studies of phytonutri- listings at localharvest.com, I noticed
Maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes. ents emphasize the need for a di- an increasing number of fake CSAs.
Granulated maple sugar and maple syr- versity of plant foods in our diets. A fake CSA exploits a consumer’s as-
up can be used instead of refined sugar Phytonutrients mediate inflammation sumption about the value of a CSA and,
in all recipes. It bakes well, is a great and reduce cancer and heart disease among other things, distributes non-
sugar to start yeast with and is good for risk. They bolster our immune sys- organic produce they acquire from off
you as it contains trace minerals. Best tems and reduce the effects of aging. their farm. The actual source of food is
12 Wise Traditions SPRING 2010