Runamok is a family-owned, Vermont based company that started with a foundation of premium, organic maple syrup and has expanded to an array of maple-based products. Started by husband and wife, Eric and Laura Sorkin, they began tapping their woods in Cambridge, Vermont in 2009.  

While maple syrup can look and taste the same, it can come from forests that are managed in dramatically different ways. Park-like maple monocultures may appeal to our tidy aesthetic and increase sap production over the short-term, but they support relatively low numbers of birds and bird species. In contrast, the biologically and structurally diverse sugarbushes of Runamok offer great places for birds to forage, find cover, and raise their young. They are also likely to have better long-term sap production, fewer forest health problems, and be better able to adapt to the stresses of climate change.

At Runamok, they believe protecting the land is of utmost importance. Good maple syrup depends on healthy trees. The philosophy at Runamok is to protect the soil, encourage biodiversity, and treat the land they work on gently. Every single tree in their sugarbush acts as the lungs for the biosphere, taking in excess carbon and breathing out oxygen. They love that they have a working landscape that provides not only one of the finest ingredients from North America but also a natural air filter that is tipping the carbon ratio in the right direction.

Runamok knows they can do more than just protect the land where our food sources come from, so they also are trying to think globally with every decision they make in production. The solar panels on the Runamok product facility’s rooftop will reduces their carbon footprint. The post-infused ingredients and barrels they pass along to other food and beverage producers help reduce food waste.

Runamok aims to be not only good environmental stewards of our land but also stewards for the planet. Because of their efforts, they are certified organic by the Northeastern Organic Farmers Association and have earned the Bird Friendly Maple designation from the National Audubon Society.

Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited of Tallahassee today to see our collection of all-natural, small-batch and uniquely crafted Runamok Maple Syrups, Pairing Collections and Maple Cocktail Bitters.

Look for the label!  Recognize and support participating maple producers for their good work.  Look for maple syrup containers with the label indicating the syrup was produced in a Bird-Friendly forest habitat. Maple sugarbushes are inherently good for birds, but forests that are intentionally managed with birds in mind are even better!