Meetings & Events Archive

THE CHANGING FACE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN REGION: RE-CREATING THE CIDER INDUSTRY

Location: Arendtsville, National Apple Harvest Festival

The Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail partnered with the South Mountain Partnership to present a discussion on the changing nature of agriculture in the South Mountain region. The discussion drew upon the first-hand experiences of four family farms that have found renewed economic success by turning back to an old use of cider for a new audience: hard cider and sweet cider.  Hauser Estate Winery discussed their hard cider production and how it transitioned their farm and business. Reid’s Winery highlighted the planting and use of heirloom cider apple for their farm’s hard cider production. Big Hill Winery and Cider Works shared insights into the creation of a modern farm business based on the old value added product of hard and sweet apple cider. Finally, Oyler’s Organic Farms and Market discussed transitioning from conventional apple growing to organic apple growing for sweet cider production.