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Frequently Asked Questions:

Do you actually make these?
Yes. This is the number one question we get at festivals or in-store samplings. It's difficult to imagine, we know. While it would appear to be easier to have someone else make it for us, we feel that our consumers need to know the people, the farms, the beekeepers behind the foods they eat.

What farms & artisans do you work with?
We purchase direct from Mapleline Farm in Hadley, Warm Colors Apiary in south Deerfield, Riverland Farm in Sunderland, Atlas Farm in south Deerfield,  South River Miso in Conway, Cranberry Hill Farm in Craigsville, Saw Mill Site Farm in south Deerfield, Apex Orchards in Shelburne, and Raye's Mustard Mill out of Eastport, Maine. 

How are you helping to sustain local agriculture?
By consciously loading each of our products with local ingredients, where the MAJORITY of ingredients are locally grown or produced (buttermilk, miso) we strive to make a significant positive impact on the annual income of each of the farms & artisans we work with. Please see our 2007 farm report for more details.

Is Salsa Veracruz made with local tomatoes?
Yes, with the finest award-winning tomatoes this side of the Mississippi! In fact, all of the ingredients in our salsa are Massachusetts grown (20 minutes from our kitchen) as well as certified organic. We do use a touch of lime and Portuguese sea salt which are not locally grown.

How hot is the Salsa Veracruz?
Our Salsa Veracruz is an authentic Latin or "Mexican" salsa which means it will feel hotter (mild, medium, and hot) than the rest of the salsas you may find on the shelves of your local markets here in the northeastern US. Our intention with this product is to bring south America to the northeast, not to adjust a classic salsa to the northeastern milder taste buds. If you are not a fan of spicy foods, you will not be a fan of our salsa. If you can't get enough heat when it comes to "jarred salsas" then grab the "Hoppin' Hot" and you may find it spicy enough.

How are your dressings so low in fat?
People are continually amazed by how low in fat our ranch dressings are. The reason is that they are sugar free.

Why is it called Appalachian Naturals?
Appalachian Naturals is named after the Appalachian mountain range which stretches as far south as the Gulf coast in Georgia to the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec prov., Canada. As we grow our ingredient sourcing will include family run farms, cheese artisans, and beekeepers all along the Appalachian mountains, north, mid-Atlantic, and southern. Our products hope to capture east coast culinary integrity, something that has defined us as a region for decades.

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