Sweet/Hard Cider
9:00am - 11:00am
In this session we will hear about the effects of crop load on juice flavor and nutrition, hear from growers with practical experience in running both a hard and sweet cider business, hear from award winning cider producers, and receive updates from MDARD and the Michigan Cider Association.

MDARD Cider Mill Inspection Report
9:00am - 9:15am
Kevin Halfmann-MDARD

Michigan Cider Association Block Grant Report
9:15am - 9:30am
Paula Englin-Michigan Cider Association

Using Crop Load to Manage Juice Attributes and Nutrition in Apples
9:30am-10:20am
Shanthanu Krishna Kumar, an Assistant Professor of Tree Fruit at Penn State, will speak on juice nutrition and the effects of crop load management on juice attributes, including polyphenols, sugars, and acids. He will talk about how these affect production of both sweet and hard ciders.
Shanthanu Krishna Kumar-Penn State University

Operating a Business with Both Sweet and Hard Cider
10:20am-10:40am
Robinette's is a Grand Rapids farm that has been in the family since 1912. In addition to a thriving cider mill, the farm has been operating winery with ciders and wines since 2006. Bill Robinette will talk about how both sweet and hard cider play an important role.
Bill Robinette-Robinette's Apple Haus and Winery

Making Award Winning Cider at Hill Bros. Orchard
10:40am – 11:00am
Cider maker Chris Swaggerty will talk about his experience working as the cider maker at Hill Bros. Orchard, which won the most recent edition of the Michigan Apple Cider Contest in 2023.
Chris Swaggerty-Hill Bros. Orchard