Vermont: A Magical Place

Each time that I am lucky enough to take the drive up to Vermont, I am transported into a simpler, calmer way of life. As soon as I start to see those gorgeous green mountains in the distance, I feel my shoulders relax, the corners of my mouth turn into a smile and my worries somehow seem less heavy. What is it about VT that has this effect on me? Surely driving by acres of rolling farmland can’t magically take my cares away. After all, I live across the street from a beautiful working farm in Massachusetts!

Vermont holds a very special place in my heart, it represents so much more to me than just another bucolic New England state. Bristol, Vermont is home to ONESTO’s amazing, talented and dedicated team of bakers. Each time you munch away on one of our gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO cookies or crackers, you can rest assured that they were baked by a caring, hard working, passionate person. When I spend time in Bristol, I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude. How could I be so lucky to find a group of people that care about my recipes and dedication to quality as much as I do?

Over the past few years, I have grown to love our baking team as if they were part of my family and I hope that you can taste the difference from your very first bite.

Here are some more pictures from my trip to Bristol this fall. What a beautiful, inspiring place to bake (and do just about anything else!):

Some fun, interesting facts about a state that I love so much:

• It takes 40 years to grow a maple tree large enough to tap for maple syrup. Then, it takes 40 gallons of sap, to boil down to 1 gallon of maple syrup. Vermont is the largest single producer of maple syrup in the US, as they produce over 500,000 gallons annually.

• Montpelier is the only state capital to not have a McDonalds…way to go Montpelier!

• The Von Trapp Family (from The Sound of Music) moved to Stowe, VT in 1942. Their descendants still own and operate a beautiful ski lodge in Stowe!

• Vermont is one of four states to ban billboards (ME, AK and HI are the other three).

• In Bristol on Fridays, trash is picked up by a horse and carriage. I promise you it’s real, I have seen it myself…talk about an eco-friendly truck!

• Vermont was the first state to grant women’s voting rights, abolish slavery and legislate same-sex marriage.

• The famous ice cream brand, Ben and Jerry’s donates their ice cream waste to local pig farms. However, it is well known that the pigs do not like Mint Oreo. Who knew?!

I might be biased, but I think that food made by loving, caring and passionate people made in a setting that is gorgeous, innovative and socially responsible definitely tastes better, don’t you agree?

With love,

Jane