In the News

Specialty Food Association Trendspotter Panel Selects Top Trends for 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show

June 23, 2022

The Specialty Food Association Trendspotter Panel tasted its way through the 66th Summer Fancy Food Show in search of products gaining prominence in the specialty food industry. The Show, which took place June 12-14 at the Javits Center in New York City, had over 1,700 exhibitors featuring specialty foods and beverages from around the world.

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Get Your Hands on WhistlePig's Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup at Huckberry

June 21, 2022

WhistlePig is one of the most lauded distillers in the rye whiskey game. They pride themselves in making the "finest and most interesting whiskeys" and, interestingly enough, have brought their bold flavor to a Ben & Jerry's pint and, most recently, a maple syrup that you can now buy at Huckberry – WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup. What makes this syrup a notch above competitors like Pappy's barrel-aged syrup? The powerhouse collaboration behind it. It's a match made in heaven, er, Vermont, with Runamok Maple.

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6 food trends to watch for in 2022 and beyond

June 16, 2022

...A new cocktail tonic from Vermont maple syrup producer Runamok is the fun guy for the party – in addition to maple and citrus, it is shot through with an edible, pearly shimmer, thanks to small glitter spots. Co-founder and owner Laura Sorkin said she was initially skeptical of her husband’s idea for their first glittering product, a maple syrup, and feared it was not exactly “on fire” for their business, which boasts a kind of rustic- elegant aesthetics. “But it turned out he was right,” she said. “People just needed something silly, something fun. Don’t we all deserve it these days?”

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Seen at the Summer Fancy Food Show, Day 1

June 13, 2022

The editors of SFA News Daily have identified several innovative and on-trend products on display at the 66th Summer Fancy Food Show which opened yesterday in New York. Here are some examples spotted on the first day of the Show, which runs through Tuesday, June 14. Runamok’s Maple Tonic uses all natural ingredients to achieve tonic’s classic citrus and quinine bite combined with the brand’s signature sparkles.

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The Very Best Gifts for the Dad Who Doesn't Want Anything (Supposedly)

June 13, 2022

...We’ve drummed up some ideas that fall into that sweet spot of being considerate of his needs and interests without venturing too far out of his comfort zone on Father's Day. Here, 33 of the best gifts for the dad that doesn't want anything (or so he says). Hopefully they'll be a home run. Runamok Maple bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup – Show up to Father's Day brunch with a curveball: Some bourbon flavoring for his morning waffles.

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57 Unique Gift Ideas for Father’s Day 2022

June 9, 2022

Wake Dad up on Sunday, June 19 with the velvety smell of his favorite whiskey paired with fried beignets or fresh-off-the-griddle pancakes. Runamok’s organic maple syrup has been aged in WhistlePig Rye Whiskey barrels for 9 months, resulting in what will surely be Dad’s new favorite barrel-aged maple syrup.

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31 delicious, food-centric gifts baskets to give this holiday season

June 3, 2022

A gift basket is a common and easy gift to give to a friend, client, host, or in-laws, but all too often, they're filled with unsurprising, bland items. a great gift basket includes a large number of high-quality items that have been curated around your giftee's interests and tastes. Whether you're planning to gift food, coffee, or seasoning-filled baskets, you'll want to make sure they use every item. We've gathered27 unique gift baskets, including a salami bouquet, a bucket of candy, and even ice cream.

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Sky's the Limit: Curt Alpeter, Laura Sorkin, Eric Sorkin, and Runamok

May 22, 2022

Runamok, of Fairfax, was founded in 2016 by former bulk maple producers Eric Sorkin and his wife, Laura. Together with partner Curt Alpeter, they have taken maple to an entirely new level... Currently, Runamok employs 100 people. It made the list of “Oprah's Favorite Things” right out of the starting gate in 2016. It reported revenues last year of between $10 million and $20 million. “Runamok Maple is redefining maple from tree to table,” the company's publicity says, and that isn't hype.

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What is No Mow May – why and how to take part

May 14, 2022

To join in with No Mow May, leave the lawn unmowed. ‘Wildflowers that give nectar and pollen to honey bees will grow and bloom if we do not mow them down before they flower,’ explains Todd Hardie, considered the bee guru of the north country, and adviser to specialty food company in Vermont Runamok. ‘This food is important to honey bees and all pollinating insects as they need this nourishment for their families to expand in population in the early part of the season.’

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30 Gifts Food People Will Devour Immediately

May 4, 2022

Here are the 30 best gifts for the food lovers in your life—which is basically everyone. Runamok Sparkle Syrup: Grubbing on a stack of flapjacks drizzled with maple syrup is nothing short of a magical way to kick off your morning. But add a literal dash of glitter with Runamok’s small-batch maple syrup with food-grade mica powder, and you just might restore your belief in fairy tales.

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide: The Most Exciting Hot Sauces

April 25, 2022

Merquén Smoked Chili Pepper Infused Maple Syrup: Not quite a hot sauce, but the perfect gift for the mom who loves a kick of spicy with their sweets. Merquén is a chili blend from the Mapuche region of Chile, and when Runamok infuses them in their maple syrup, all of the profiles of the pepper - the heat, smokiness, and the rich pepper taste are magnified by the caramel tones of the maple. Make your mom’s breakfast better by ordering it here.

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40 Thoughtful Wedding Gifts They’ll Cherish Forever

April 5, 2022

For brunch lovers: Runamok Maple Syrup Gift Box. Enhance their brunch tradition with the mouth-watering, barrel-aged maple syrups in this handsome gift box. It’s brimming with syrups aged in bourbon, apple brandy, and rum barrels to make every breakfast taste like a special occasion. This one’s a hit with coffee addicts and tea drinkers alike. Now you just have to hope you’re invited to the next weekend get-together.

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Winter Fancy Foods Show Recap

April 1, 2022

After two years of virtual events and pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions, an in-person return to the Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Foods show brought an eagerness to boast about the people and processes behind each product. While every food and beverage brand has been subject to challenges over the past two years, many displayed a sense of pride in every unique supply chain approach. Exhibitors presented a variety of new flavor and nutrition profiles, shared the benefits of small-farming regenerative networks and displayed new creations using upcycled and side-stream ingredients.

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9 Items That Will Turn You Into the Titan of the Après Ski Tailgate

March 31, 2022

Skiing and snowboarding is a rather interesting hobby. For many we dream and obsess all summer long, anxiously awaiting the first turns of the winter season. We simply cannot wait for the snow to fall. What’s intriguing though is that although nothing is quite as good as an epic powder day, one can make the argument that the best time to ski is in the spring.

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The Best Maple Syrup You Can Buy, According to Our Pro Pancake Flippers

March 11, 2022

Best Vermont Maple Syrup - Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut Maple Syrup. If you’re serious about maple, you know that Vermont is the place to source your syrup. While there are lots of Vermonters making syrup, our Test Kitchen is a fan of Runamok Sugarmaker’s Cut Maple Syrup. This USDA-certified organic syrup hails from rural Vermont, where a collective of farmers works together to make this prime product, one marked as “sugarmaker’s cut.” What does this mean for your syrup? It means that this is the quality of syrup typically reserved for the farmers themselves—the pros that really know a good syrup.

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Supply chain issues, worker shortages still impacting maple industry

March 8, 2022

The sap is running and sugar-makers are busy, but supply chain problems persist this season. Eric Sorkin, the co-owner of Runamok Maple in Fairfax, says the sugar season snuck up quickly. They hope for a better year than last. “Crops ranged from about half a crop to three-quarters,” said Sorkin. It wasn’t the sweetest syrup come year’s end but he says they made it through.

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