Posts by Monica Cohen

When I took the stage at CiderCon® 2025 in Chicago, just days into my new role as CEO of the American Cider Association, I confidently said, “It’s cider’s time.” I believed it then. I believe it now (six weeks into this gig) and I’m on a mission to get others to believe it too.

Why? Because cider is primed for real growth, and the opportunities before us are vast. For years, many of you in this industry have worked tirelessly to build momentum—there are more cider producers, more tap rooms, collaborations with other industries, and efforts to educate the public on cider’s diversity. The result? Cider’s presence in retail is growing, and more consumers are discovering the unique appeal of cider as a refreshing and complex beverage. The demand is there…and increasing! Dollar sales of regional cider are up 3.3% versus one year ago. 

To capitalize on this momentum, we need to continue working together, act strategically, and move boldly forward. Since the ACA’s founding, there has been incredible work done to organize and grow the cider industry. Now, as we embark on the next chapter, I’m committed to providing the leadership, support, and infrastructure needed to allow cider to reach its full potential.

Before joining the ACA, I spent years in the food and beverage industry, specifically in dairy (yes, moo!), where I earned a reputation for challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries. As dairy was an industry struggling to stay and be relevant, I know how important it is to create a culture that embraces innovation. That’s why the ACA team, in collaboration with the Board, is rethinking everything—from enhancing the value of membership and reimagining how we deliver educational programs to relooking at how we elevate cider in every sense of the word. Here’s a glimpse of some specific projects underway:

• Refining the organization’s mission, vision, and values
• Looking for new ways to build value for our members through resources, networking, and marketing opportunities that will directly benefit your businesses 
• Creating a preferred vendor program to provide members with discounts that lower operational costs
• Exploring member services offering access to resources like insurance, leases, and HR support and more
• Expanding educational programming and building new initiatives for beverage gatekeepers, such as restaurant owners, wholesalers, and retailers
• Driving consumer demand through education and customizable programs for members to use with retailers and restaurants in their regions
• Increasing collaboration with adjacent industries and forging relationships with unlikely partners
• Creating more aggressive advocacy plans
• Relooking at how we deliver data to you
• And more!

This journey is all about what we can accomplish together. It’s about growing the ACA into an even stronger, more influential voice for cider nationwide. Together, we’ll advocate for cider across all sectors—craft cideries, large-scale producers, orchardists, and retailers. And it’s about bringing more people to the table, people who are passionate about cider and eager to help us push the category forward.

…and, it’s about collaboration. I’ve already been inspired and embraced by the ACA Board, our incredible team, many of you, and the broader cider industry as well as adjacent industries—from USApple to the Brewers Association, to the Cider Institute, and cider associations across the country. We’re seeing a unified effort to raise awareness and create a thriving industry. This momentum is exactly what we need to make cider’s time a reality.

Together, let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s be bold. Let’s make sure cider is in every household and elevate the category like never before. It’s cider’s time, and it’s time for all of us to step up and make it happen.

Until next time,
Monica 

Monica Cohen
CEO, American Cider Association