2025 Year in Review from CEO Monica Cohen

As we close out the calendar year, I’m also marking the end of my first year as CEO of the American Cider Association, a milestone that feels both grounding and energizing. This year has been one of challenge and growth for me personally, for our association, and for the greater cider industry. I stepped into this role knowing the work would matter. I didn’t yet know just how much resilience, creativity, and grit I’d witness across our community in such a short time.

There’s no question this has been a demanding year for cider. Tariffs continued to complicate supply chains and increase costs. Natural disasters impacted orchards and cideries in pockets across the country, reminding us just how connected this industry is to land, weather, and place. And like the rest of the beverage alcohol world, cider continues to face the pressures of a growing neo-prohibition movement that challenges our right to operate, market, and grow responsibly. None of this is easy…but it is real, and it is shaping how we move forward.

That forward movement starts at home. Over the past year, the ACA team has embraced a renewed focus on disciplined management – tightening operations, prioritizing cost savings, and ensuring we are building a strong, sustainable foundation for the future. At the same time, we launched our capital campaign, and I was deeply inspired by the response. Members large and small stepped up, investing in the long-term financial health of the association and sending a powerful message of confidence in our shared future.

We also made meaningful strides in programs and impact. 

• The Certified Cider Professional™ program has also seen significant impact in making cider education more accessible, more practical, and easier to fit into our busy lifestyles. In addition, we’ve expanded significantly this year, with new licensed educators joining the fold and the program reaching new geographies including Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Canada.
• Membership continued to grow, bringing new voices and energy into the association. 
• On the advocacy front, we gained real traction on the Bubble Tax Bill by reintroducing the bill in the House of Representatives and securing even more sponsors this year. We have also launched a new advocacy alliance which includes cider members who are stepping up to help fund the hiring of a lobbying firm. 

This work will carry into 2026 and will be a major step forward in strengthening cider’s voice on Capitol Hill. Perhaps most encouraging of all: even amid industry headwinds, cider showed real momentum in the marketplace. While many beverage alcohol categories struggled, U.S. hard cider delivered growth in both dollar sales and volume this year…a meaningful return to growth and a clear signal that consumers continue to seek out what cider does best: flavor, authenticity, and connection to craft. That momentum belongs to you – the makers, growers, marketers, and champions who keep pushing this category forward.

Speaking of forward…I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the start of the new year as we gather in Providence, Rhode Island for CiderCon® 2026.  The team is putting the final touches on what promises to be a fantastic lineup of speakers, an expanded trade show, some great tours and tastings, and – most importantly – the chance to reconnect with friends and further the craft we all care so deeply about. Yes, it’s winter in Rhode Island. And yes, it is absolutely worth it, so register now!

Thank you for an incredible first year. I can’t wait to see what we build together next.

Monica