BENTON HARBOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan’s hard cider industry is growing, with many of the apples used coming from right here in southwest Michigan.
“Hard cider is where craft beer was a decade back” is one proponent’s opinion. Michigan, the nation’s second-largest cider producer behind New York, continues to expand its operations.
Bill Shane, the extension fruit specialist for southwest Michigan, says hard cider requires special apple varieties focusing on astringency rather than sweetness. He says ‘gold rush’ is an old standby for growers while new arrivals like ‘crimson crisp’ grow in popularity for the Michigan hard cider industry.
Production numbers show what’s old is new again, and those who love hard cider will, hopefully in the near future, be able to taste test a sample of the newest at an outdoor event.
