The American Cider Affiliation (ACA) introduced the recipients of their annual Cider Excellence Awards at CiderCon® 2024 in Portland, honoring people, companies, and organizations from across the nation for his or her achievements in, and contributions to, the U.S. onerous cider trade.
Award winners this yr included:
Award for Vital Influence on the Business | Emily Ritchie, Government Director, NW Cider Affiliation
Award for Vital Influence on the Business | Brighid O’Keane, Government Director, Cider Institute of North America
Apple Advocate Award | Consultant Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
Apple Advocate Award | Jake Mann, 5 Mile Orchard, California
Member of the Yr | Ploughman Cider, Pennsylvania
Member of the Yr | Seattle Cider, Washington
The best honors given every year are the awards for “Vital Influence on the Cider Business,” which this yr went to Emily Ritchie of Northwest Cider Affiliation for her admirable work selling the cider trade for the Northwest area (OR, WA, ID, MT & British Columbia), and Brighid O’Keane of Cider Institute of North America for her world efforts to supply rigorous training on high quality cider manufacturing.
As well as, US Consultant Earl Blumenauer of Oregon was awarded the “Apple Advocate Award” for his enduring dedication to stage the taking part in subject for cideries by laws, in addition to orchardist Jake Mann for his ongoing partnership with the cider neighborhood by his historic household ranch in California, 5 Mile Orchard. “Member of the Yr” awards got to each Seattle Cider of Washington and Ploughman Cider of Pennsylvania for his or her ongoing efforts to present again to their communities and the cider trade.
“That is considered one of my favourite moments at CiderCon® every year, once we collect collectively as a neighborhood to have fun individuals dedicated to shifting the dial for cider,” says Michelle McGrath, CEO of the ACA. “It’s actually humbling to see how a lot ardour and onerous work goes into supporting and rising this trade.”
Now in its ninth yr, the Cider Excellence Awards had been held on January 18th, 2024 at CiderCon®, the ACA’s annual convention, which occurred this yr in Portland, Oregon from January 17 – January 19, 2024.
2024 Cider Excellence Awards from the American Cider Affiliation
Vital Influence on the Business | Emily Ritchie is the Government Director of the Northwest Cider Affiliation, a commerce nonprofit that brings cideries and cider lovers collectively to study, expertise, and benefit from the Northwest cider tradition. Representing 100 industrial cidermakers from all through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, the group is devoted to supporting, selling, and rising its thriving trade. Emily’s imaginative and prescient of a vibrant, collaborative trade the place anybody can share within the success and pleasure of cider, is delivered to life by her strategic pondering and onerous work. Her efforts have efficiently helped put the Pacific Northwest on the coronary heart of the craft cider motion.
Vital Influence on the Business | Brighid O’Keane is the Government Director of the Cider Institute of North America (CINA). CINA is a nonprofit group of cider trade professionals and educators with a mission to create a quality-driven and sustainable cider trade by training and analysis. Brighid’s devoted work to develop curriculum and procure funding for analysis has helped develop the cider trade by empowering cidermakers by experience and expertise across the globe. Her intensive efforts have helped usher improved high quality by CINA training for brand new and skilled cidermakers alike, thus serving to to raise the fame of the US onerous cider.
Apple Advocate | Consultant Earl Blumenauer (OR) is a US Congressman (OR-D) who has advocated for the US Onerous Cider Business for greater than a decade by introducing impactful laws. In 2015, he launched the Cider Act, which supported American cideries by lessening an unfair tax burden, eradicating pointless crimson tape, and permitting cider to be extra aggressive internationally. And this yr, he has launched the Bubble Tax Modernization Act, to amend a minor carbonation tax disparity that has traditionally had main unfavourable impacts to cidermakers. Earl Blumenauer has championed small companies and spoken at size concerning the immense constructive influence craft industries have on the financial system. (Discover out extra concerning the Bubble Invoice right here: https://ciderassociation.org/reps-blumenauer-kelly-introduce-bubble-bill/)
Apple Advocate | Jake Mann (CA) is rooted in farming. His household has been rising apples within the fertile Pajaro Valley two hours south of San Francisco close to Watsonville because the mid-Nineteenth century. This distinctive place has lengthy specialised in rising Newtown Pippins. Jake additionally actively pursued relationships with cidermakers in order that increasingly Newtown Pippin single selection ciders made by cideries all through Northern California proudly announce the 5 Mile Orchard because the supply of their fruit. An energetic participant in CiderCon® for a few years, Jake is at all times prepared with a smile and an infectious eagerness to proceed his household’s legacy by rising wonderful apples for cidermaking.
Member of the Yr | Ploughman Cider (PA) is a Pennsylvania-based cidery with a protracted historical past of supporting their neighborhood and serving to raise up the cider trade of their state. As energetic leaders of their state’s cider guild, Ploughman Cider has had an incredible influence on shaping the native trade. They’ve additionally served as an incubator for fledgling cidermakers with their inventive collaborations. They’re actively dedicated to the ACA’s mission and mission-related programming, and the ACA is proud to acknowledge Ploughman Cider for his or her contributions to each Pennsylvania and the cidery trade at giant.
Member of the Yr | Seattle Cider (WA) is a Washington-based cidery that has repeatedly stepped up as a frontrunner within the cider world. Their dedication to giving again to their neighborhood by considerate collaborations, like their partnership with the nonprofit Metropolis Fruit, has lifted the bar for what’s anticipated. They proactively work to create a welcoming setting for all by their taproom programming and several other of their staff members serve on committees and boards for each the American Cider Affiliation and the Northwest Cider Affiliation. Seattle Cider is being acknowledged as Member of the Yr for his or her immense contributions to their local people and the cider trade.
In regards to the American Cider Affiliation
The American Cider Affiliation is a corporation of cider and perry producers in the USA. It gathers and shares details about cider manufacturing, laws, and apple rising to assist members enhance their operations, increase consciousness, and advance cider available in the market. The group was based in February 2013. Be taught extra at ciderassociation.org.
