Cider Makers Seek Sour Apples

As we’ve reported, Cider’s popularity just keeps growing.  But there’s a sour apple shortage.  To make the type of hard cider desired by restaurants and retailers, the shortage of sour or bittersweet apples, suitable only for cider, is especially problematic for small producers.  The big guys can afford to import juice from Europe.  Believe it or not, the long arm of Prohibition is to blame.  Cider, the mainstay drink of the early settlers, was banned along with everything else alcoholic, and the orchards destroyed.

Most apple growers make their money producing lovely, sweet apples for sale in the produce department.  Hard cider makers are offering to pay growers as much per bushel for sour cider apples as they have been paying for sweet apples.  Some growers are responding.  Many cider makers say they can sell more of their product once the bittersweet apples become available.