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Images: Tahuya River Apiaries, Harmony Orchards, Pipitone Farms, Poverty Lane Orchards, cider.
All images courtesy of the photographer. All images copyright © Clare Barboza
Ciderland USA
Cider in and around these United States.
On The Shelf: What We’re Reading: for Presidents’ Day: Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf
Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, by Andrea Wulf
“For the Founding Fathers, gardening, agriculture, and botany were elemental passions: a conjoined interest as deeply ingrained in their characters as the battle for liberty and a belief in the greatness of their new nation.”
Read an excerpt here.
We discovered the book via William Yosses, author, activist and White House Executive Pastry Chef, who mentioned Founding Gardeners, in his talk at TEDxManhattan:Changing the Way We Eat, which you can view along with all the inspiring TEDxManhattan speakers, here. William “Bill” Yosses speaks during Session 2: EDUCATE at about 1:45 timestamp.
Cider52: Breezy Hill, Farnum Hill, Foggy Ridge, West County, and Duche de Longueville Muscadet de Dieppe Cidre Bouche
Cider52: A Cider A Week. The plan: 52 weeks, 52 cider tastings, pairings and postings.
For a current list of ciders reviewed so far, and links to reviews see: List of Cider Reviews 2013: Cider 52
February 2013 ciders to be reviewed:
Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider
Farnum Hill Kingston Black Cider Reserve
Foggy Ridge Cider Serious Cider
West County Cider Reine De Pomme
Duché de Longueville, Cidre Bouche de Cru, Muscadet de Dieppe, Normandie
Tasting notes and pairings to follow.
Breaking Cider News: Feb 6th, 2013 Chicago Illinois: The United States Association of Cider Makers formed
Reports from the twit-o-sphere lead us to believe that it’s official:
On February 6th in Chicago, Illinois – The United States Association of Cider Makers officially formed as a national association for the US cider industry. More details, with links to other coverage to follow as we find them.
Breakfast Cider, or A Cider A Day with Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider
Breakfast Cider. An American tradition in need of a revival.
As part of our A Cider A Day Policy and Cider365 Initiative we suggest cider for breakfast.
A morning mug of cider pairs well with most brunch foods. Bacon, sausage, ham – couldn’t be better. Eggs in all their forms – delightful. Oatmeal and cider – a solid start to the day. Almost any breakfast food is more enjoyable with a mug of hearty cider. For a particularly tasty start to your morning try a nice mug of Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. It’s fresh, lively, unfiltered, and full of apple cider goodness. It even carries a tag reminding you it’s alive – and to care for it accordingly.
Of course, cider for breakfast is a tradition best revived on days when attending work, driving a vehicle, or the operation of heavy machinery is not part of the plan.
But as a start to a leisurely day – nothing’s better than Breakfast Cider.
Cider52: Slyboro Cider House, Castañón Sidra Natural, Harvest Moon Cidery, and EM Emilio Martinez Signature Cider
Cider52: A Cider A Week. The plan: 52 weeks, 52 cider tastings, pairings and postings.
More January 2013 ciders:
Slyboro Cider House Hidden Star Cider
Slyboro Cider House Old Sin Cider
EM Emilio Martinez Signature Cider 2011
Harvest Moon Cidery Four Screw Cider with Maple Syrup
Tasting notes and pairings to follow.
Cider CSA – Community Supported Cider
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.
- CSA allows members direct access to high quality agricultural products grown and crafted locally.
- CSA members buy a “share” of regional producers goods.
- Members get regular share allotments, usually via pick up or at drop-off location near by.
- CSA members generally pay for the seasons produce upfront. This advance payment helps your local producer plan and prepare for the season, and as a member you directly support your local producer.
Read more about the concept and practice at Just Food.
Some US cider makers are adopting the CSA model, creating a new Community Supported Cider, an apt turn of phrase coined by Whitewood Cider, (though they opted to go with the more recognizable term – CSA).
A few Cider CSAs:
In the Northwest, Whitewood Cider of Olympia, Washington has a 2012-2013 Whitewood CSA Subscription. Check their site to see if shares are still available and to see what ciders are on offer.
Charlton Orchards Farm & Winery in Charlton, Massachusetts, offers several CSA options, including a Farm Winery CSA which includes ciders.
Redbyrd Orchard Cider in Burdett, New York is offering a Spring Cider Share for 2013. Check their site to see if shares are still available. Options include bottle shares and keg shares.
Check with your local cider maker to see if they are offering a Cider CSA option this year. Support Community Cider.
If you know of other Cider CSAs please leave a comment.
North American Cider, Perry & Ice Wine Associations & Organizations
A Listing of North American Cider, Perry & Ice Wine Associations & Organizations.
Last updated January 24, 2013.
Visit the websites for detailed information about members, membership, products, and events.
Cidre du Québec / Les Cidriculteurs artisans du Québec CAQ “The goal of the Association of Independent Cider Producers of Québec (CAQ) is to defend the interests of cider producers and the Québec cider-producing sector. Visit our cider mills. The workers will be happy to let you in on the secret of how they bottle all that flavour.” Province/Region: Québec, Canada Members: 47 makers listedGreat Lakes Cider & Perry Association GLCPA “The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association (GLCPA) is a nonprofit organization formed to showcase and promote fermented apple and pear beverages and to help educate consumers and producers about them. Our members include both commercial and non-commercial producers, as well as affiliate members located outside the region. Come join us at one of our events and discover some of the finest North American ciders and perries!”
State/Region: Great Lakes Region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario.
Members/Listings: Currently include 59 commercial cider makers listed in the GLCPA Directory
States/Region: Northwest: Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Canada Members: Currently includes 20 commercial cider makers Ontario Craft Cider Association OCCA “We are in the midst of cider revolution and in 2012, Ontario`s cider producers formed the Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) to ensure that local cider producers exceed consumers cider expectations and to educate the public about the incredible tastes, versatility and complexities of cider. Membership is open to all Cider and Perry producers in Ontario and associate memberships are open to all.” Province/Region: Ontario, Canada Members: currently 13 makers listed Rocky Mountain Cider Association RMCA “The Rocky Mountain Cider Association (RMCA) is an organization of commercial producers of (hard) cider and perry in the Rocky Mountain region: Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Our goals are to promote the understanding and appreciation of quality cider in our region, to help producers and suppliers find one another and work together for common goals, and coördinate events to develop the craft cider industry in our region.”
State/Region: Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico Members: Commercial cider makers list pending Vermont Ice Cider Association “Ice Cider is a delicious and sophisticated sweet wine made from apples using natural cold weather to concentrate the flavors and the sugars of the fruit before fermentation. Originally developed in Southern Quebec, it has a remarkable complexity and balance that is usually associated with fine dessert wines. Ice Cider is becoming recognized as a premier North American specialty.” State/Region: Vermont Members: Currently includes 6 commercial ice cider makers Descriptive information quoted is from the specific organization’s websites.
Please leave a comment if you have North American cider association resources to add.
Favorite ciders of 2012 ?
Just a few of the ciders we liked in 2012:
- Bad Seed Cider Company’s ciders with beer inspired profiles – (sampled at The New Amsterdam Market Hard Cider Revival).
- West County’s Belle de Boskoop – a bright, tart, cider featuring its namesake – an heirloom Dutch apple.
- Breezy Hill Orchard’s Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider – THE perfect candidate for Breakfast Cider, fresh, unfiltered and lively.
United States of Cider wants to know what your cider discoveries were in 2012 ?
UnitedStatesofCider 