Archive for January 2024

The American Cider Association was founded 11 years ago by a group of individuals with a clear vision of a nonprofit structure, controlled by its members. In doing so, this ensured that those most impacted by the association’s work would be the same people in decision making roles. Today, the ACA has a Board of Directors, made up of its members, that help to expand its reach and impact. The founding board of directors took great care to protect geographic and business size diversity through the founding bylaws, a choice that still benefits the association today through our current board. 

As cidery members of the ACA, this means that your input helps to shape the organization. One of the benefits of your ACA membership is the ability to participate in voting. Every cidery, no matter the size, gets one vote as part of the ACA’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity in its board, which represents a range of cidery business models, sizes, and regions.

The 2024 ACA Board Elections are rapidly approaching. If you are an active member of the ACA and a bonded active cidery, your principal contact will receive an electronic ballot on Thursday, January 18, 2024 via email at 8:30 AM Pacific Time. You can vote from your hotel room at CiderCon® or from the cellar back home–all voting is done remotely. The ballot will close at 11:30 AM Pacific Time on Friday, January 19, 2024. 

This year there are two At-Large seats open on the ACA Board of Directors and 7 candidates in the running to choose from.  Please take the time to learn about the candidates running for the 2024 ACA Board by reading about them below. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Brooke Glover and Soham Bhatt are both rotating off the current board after completing their elected terms of service. Both were dedicated and supportive board members who will leave behind big shoes for new directors to fill. We’re incredibly grateful for all they’ve contributed to shaping and growing the ACA. Thank you Brooke and Soham!

Casey Baxter has 20 years of beer/cider sales experience at both the distributor and supplier level. He is the National Key Account Director for the newly formed Blake’s Beverage Company that includes Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, and Avid Cider. Casey has been with Blake’s for 3 years and most recently spent time with Founders Brewing & Vermont Hard Cider. He is also a proud member and chair of the data insights committee for the American Cider Association.

Candidate Statement

I have had the pleasure of serving on the ACA Data Insights committee for a couple of years now, and my experience there has shaped my interest in running for the ACA board of directors. What I’ve noticed in my role at Blake’s and on the committee is that the cider industry’s ability to innovate is stifled by a lack of tax parity and uneven regulations. As a board member, I would support a full review of state tax laws and TTB regulations. I want to support the ACA to do more to create change and help grow the industry. I am also excited to continue supporting the ACA’s efforts to be the best source of cider industry data available, by clearly defining Regional/National or Craft Cideries and seeing how each are represented by the ACA, including small cideries not typically found in SKU data. I will use my expertise to support a focus on generating data stories within cider for press coverage. Lastly, I look forward to further engaging with the cider community and ACA members to understand needs outside of my current perspective while making lasting relationships and providing insight through my experience.

Shannon Edgar founded Stormalong Cider in 2014 in the pursuit of making ciders that showcase the unique flavors fermented from cider-friendly apples with high levels of acid, tannins, and sugar. The historical nature of some of these apple varieties and their connection to New England history has always been a focus and interest. Stormalong was born in a barn in the town of Sherborn, MA, which was once home to the largest refined cider mill in the world in the late 1800’s. Prior to starting Stormalong, as an avid musician, Shannon spent 20 years working in various roles throughout the music industry for both major and independent record labels as well as in artist development. Shannon currently resides in Sherborn, MA on a small farm with his wife, 2 children, and apple trees close by.

Candidate Statement

I have been fortunate to follow my passions in my professional life starting in music and now spending the last decade in cider. In my world, passion drives everything and provides that extra level of resolve and determination needed to move forward in the face of adversity. Keeping that spark alive is key to building and growing cider and our community.

I’ve been told “no” a lot, and have dealt with the criticism, discouragement, and frustration that comes along with the territory in hyper competitive industries like music and beverage. Learning to deal with setbacks and challenges is a skill set I have honed well.

Cider to me can be captivating, inspiring, and can help give your soul the fuel and support it needs. It can also bring frustration and disillusionment. I ask myself on a regular basis “why am I doing this?” But I always find the inspiration to forge ahead from witnessing the pleasures of others tasting our ciders, or the fulfillment of a win in the industry. On top of that, the personal joy and satisfaction of taking something grown from the earth and transforming it into something beautiful is a reward in and of itself. Commercial success is an added bonus.

For my part in the ACA, I would help those that need inspiration and those that need help getting back up after being knocked down. I would lend my knowledge and resources to help all members on their journey in cider. The cider community is unique in its’ underdog status, diverse mix of people and cultures, and the challenges it faces. I would like to continue educating and campaigning for cider and provide a passionate voice of advocacy and support.

Meet Jeremy “Skywolf” Fleming, a California native whose professional journey mirrors the diverse landscapes that surround him in his home state. He is currently the Head Cidermaker at SLO Cider Co, in San Luis Obispo, California, a company he and 2 partners established in 2020. Beyond the cidery, Jeremy serves as a Member-At-Large on the Central Coast Cider Association board of directors where he focuses on sponsorship outreach and media coordination. Jeremy regularly speaks at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to graduate and undergraduate students regarding fermentation science and the nuances of manufacturing hard cider on a large scale. In addition, on a yearly basis he mentors several interns at his cider facility, designing senior projects for their graduation requirements, and offering them much needed hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment.

In years past, Jeremy began his professional beverage journey as co-founder and Head Brewer of a small craft brewery in San Luis Obispo. While immersed in the craft beer scene, Jeremy had the honor of contributing as the acting Treasurer on the board of directors for the Central Coast Brewers Guild. During this period, he played a pivotal role in expanding the guild’s reach across three counties, achieved through two successive bylaw updates spanning his four-year tenure. This era of growth significantly boosted the guild’s revenue by over 2,000% and helped foster collaboration within the beer community as well as enhance the sense of collective purpose among guild members. His experience in construction, engineering, and nuclear power systems hasn’t been the only thing that has contributed to his success in the craft beverage industry. He would point out that his experience in open-ocean outrigger racing and professional baking are just as important to his current career as a craft beverage specialist. Outside of his professional pursuits, you’ll find Jeremy immersed in fantasy novels, shredding on his snowboard, or finding peace paddling on the open ocean.

Candidate Statement

Over the past few years, I have grown to believe that the cider industry in the US is one of the most equitable and inclusive groups that I have ever known. After attending multiple CiderCon® events, and becoming a member of our local cider association, I’ve come to appreciate the diverse tapestry of voices that enrich this industry. I’m proud to be part of this industry and promise to always hold a welcoming space to contribute, collaborate, and thrive. As a Member-At-Large on the ACA Board, my goals would be twofold. My first goal would be to promote an industry wide strategy for Cider to be universally represented as its own unique category, not just another alternative beverage. Moving cider offerings from the bottom of the menu to its own dedicated section will increase confidence in the cider category, drive greater cider sales, and assist the cider industry’s growth. As a second goal, I plan to advocate for fair tax legislation at the state and federal levels. My overall goal would be encouraging new legislation to amend the CBMA, which would allow the addition of other fruits and flavorings to carbonated hard cider without triggering the Artificially Carbonated Wine tax.

Josie Mielke is the Operations Director and founder of Urban Orchard Cider Company in Asheville, NC. She was trained in the art of cider making in the United Kingdom at the Cider and Perry Academy in 2012 and opened Urban Orchard in the fall of 2013. Through Urban Orchard, Joise has championed NC agricultural, by committing to purchase apples from North Carolina. Her cidery has only purchased juice from Hendersonville, NC in the 11 seasons they have produced cider. Josie strongly believes in promoting the local economy, supporting NC farmers, and knowing where your food comes from. Josie has served on the Marketing Committee for the American Cider Association, is the Treasurer for the North Carolina Cider Association, mentors’ interns via AB Tech’s Brewing, Fermentation, and Distillation Program, and planned and executed Urban Orchard Cider Company from the ground up. When she is not working at Urban Orchard, you can find her either with her 3 dogs, at the gym, enjoying nature, dancing, volunteering for the community or traveling around the world.

Candidate Statement

Small business can be so difficult that it is often hard to think of the whole when you are fighting so hard for yourself; but the trials of post-pandemic operation have shown me that even a little bit of fellowship and sometimes commiseration can boost morale and be motivating for change. I believe that by having more routine and personalized interaction with Regional and State Cider Associations that the American Cider Association will be able to motivate more grassroots participation and increase the membership. It is imperative to our industry to look out for each other, to protect the value of cider in an ever-changing beverage landscape, and to have a cooperative Association that has the resources and backing to advocate for us at a federal level. Whether that’s lobbying for tax rates that fit the product, fairness in labeling, or a cohesive construct for consumer education and marketing, the ability to be successful starts with membership. I look forward to focusing on meeting Cider Makers from across the nation, collaborating to move the cider industry forward, and working with other like-minded individuals to identify what obstacles we need to overcome so that we all have the opportunity to be successful.

Jeff Parrish grew up in Eugene, Oregon and attended the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls earning a degree in Laser Optical Engineering. The idea of starting a cider company wasn’t in his wildest dreams back then. His cider adventure started a few years later when he discovered Woodchuck Cider in 1995 at a Trader Joe’s in the Bay Area while buying alcohol for his brother’s bachelor party. Apples had always been his favorite fruit, and he absolutely loved fresh juice, but the concept of apples to cider was unheard of to him until then. His mind was blown that night, both figuratively and literally! The next chapter in Jeff’s cider story was in 2003 when on a trip to Victoria, BC, he discovered Merridale Cider. He had purchased a keg or two of Strongbow by then as that was the driest cider he could find locally at the time, but his mind got blown again when he was introduced to real craft cider made with English cider apples. A trip to Merridale became an annual pilgrimage to fill his car with coolers and bring back as much as he could carry.

Jeff’s cidermaking adventure started in 2007 when he discovered he could buy fresh pressed bittersweet juice from a local farm each fall. A few years later he began seeing the pioneers in NW craft cider at a local apple festival and the light bulb came on that maybe this passion could be turned into a living. A few years after that in 2012, burned out with our corporate sales jobs, and with all caution being thrown to the wind, his wife Lynda and he decided to start the Portland Cider Company. Now 11 years in, they love what they do, they love the cider community they are part of, and they take great joy in having created a workplace full of passionate cider lovers that they consider family.

Candidate Statement

As a member of the ACA since nearly its inception, I have enjoyed watching it grow from the small collection of passionate cidermakers to the entity today that speaks for over 800. Like the cidermakers it represents, the organization has learned as we’ve gone along and is better today than we were yesterday. I have been a member of the Legislative Committee for the past 4 years. That experience has shown me just how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go to mold state and federal regulation to eliminate the barriers to making and marketing our cider. Should I be elected to the board, my focus will be on governmental engagement seeking change to the laws and regulations that stand in our way. Craft beer enjoys the freedom of innovation that allows them to basically put anything they want in their beer, in any size container they want, and at any ABV, with a single tax rate and little to no restrictions on how they market it. Cider should enjoy those same freedoms. I will do everything I can to help us get there.

Colin Schilling is the CEO and Co-Founder of Schilling Cider, one of the nation’s largest independent fresh pressed based cideries. In addition to cider, Colin has a passion for food and beverage broadly and has created and consulted on brands in the non-alcoholic, coffee, energy, and cannabis spaces. He has an MBA focused in entrepreneurship and business sustainability and worked in tech consulting prior to founding the cider company. In addition to the wholesale business, Schilling Cider operates two retail locations in Seattle and Portland which are the largest cider taprooms in the world by draft cider offerings! Colin strongly believes business is a force for good and change and has integrated numerous sustainable practices into the core business. He is also an industry thought leader on people-first company culture and works to deliver a best-in-class employment experience for every employee.

Candidate Statement

Hello Cider Friends! The cider industry is at a pivotal moment with shifting consumer preferences and demographics. While these shifts present challenges I see big opportunities and feel cider has never been in a better position to grow rapidly! I have long been an advocate for a collaborative all boats rise mentality for cider, and I want to extend this work through a board seat with the ACA. Specifically, our industry and our trade groups need to further strengthen our collaborative nature to present a united front in a landscape of distributor consolidation and changing consumer preferences. We need to work hard to gain share of mind with wholesalers and retailers as a collective and educate the next group of LDA consumers that cider is the BEST beyond beer option with amazing historical and agricultural stories. Additionally, I see the ACA as the strongest trade organization to represent cider’s interests in DC and will work to advance legal changes to continue to allow our industry to thrive. I have worked in the past to showcase and support cider of all styles and sizes through our two Cider Houses that carry more guest offerings than our own, I worked successfully to get cider the opportunity to pour at the nation’s largest craft beer festival, I helped build an annual selling occasion for cider through National Cider Month, and I have passed 3 cider focused laws in my home state. My goal is to further extend this work while serving on the board of the ACA! Cheers! PS – I would also love to talk about people first company cultures and environmental sustainability – but I am already over on my word count…

Brian Wing is Co-Owner and Head Cidermaker of Green Bench Mead & Cider of Saint Petersburg, FL. Opened in 2015, Green Bench seeks to showcase amazing craft cider to drinkers in the Sunshine State. Brian is an ACA Certified Pommelier™ and holds a position as instructor for University of South Florida’s Brewing Arts program where he teaches courses on production to aspiring professional cider and mead makers. Previously, Brian served 6 years on the Board of Directors for the American Mead Makers Association; four years as Treasurer and two as President. Brian holds an MBA from the University of South Florida and lives in Seminole with his wife and 6 month-old daughter.

Candidate Statement

We picked an unlikely spot to make cider when we started Green Bench in St Pete…but we were passionate about bringing excellent cider to Florida and nearly 10 years later, we are still committed to that goal. If elected to the board, I would like to see further development of our regional chapters; helping to create new events and workshops, focusing our marketing strategy, and creating a stronger sense of camaraderie amongst our members. For many of us, CiderCon® is the only time we are gathered in a room together and I’d like to see that change. We’re seeing an explosion of interest in cider here in the South, and strong regional partnerships will help ensure the cider produced here is of the quality our industry demands and will allow members to benefit from the help available all around them. I’d also continue to push for legislative reform on taxation to lower the barriers to entry for new cidermakers (and the barriers to profitability for existing cidermakers). I have years of experience sitting on the Board of other non-profits in the alcohol industry to help with that. Above all that, my role on the Board is to serve the needs of the members. I am very excited to meet with you in Portland so please come say “Hi”. We can share some cider (and maybe a few stories about the insanity that is running a small business over the past few years) and I can learn how my service can help you.