Josie Mielke is the co-owner and operations manager at Urban Orchard Cider Company in Asheville, North Carolina. She was elected to the ACA board of directors in January 2024 to an At Large Seat.

Tell us about your cidery/farm/orchard

Urban Orchard Cider Company is family owned and operated by a crew of passionate and fun-loving cider nerds. We source ALL of our apples from North Carolina, and utilize multiple yeast strains to craft a diverse offering of cider flavor and aromatic profiles. Our current collection of recipes contains over 80 innovative and creative ciders, utilizing fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, flowers, and hot peppers. All of our ciders are aged a minimum of six months, to allow for natural clarification, and the maturation of natural flavors and aromas.

How did you get into cider?

Like a lot of people I am gluten intolerant. I had dabbled in cidermaking because I went gluten free in 2006 and could not find a cider that I enjoyed. Unfortunately, at that time there was not a lot of selection and I found that they were all too sweet for me. At the same time I had moved back to Asheville and was having a very hard time finding employment due to the recession and Asheville being a service based city. Our family had discussed starting a business after the recession and with the craft beer boom and the accessibility of apples in our area this seemed like the perfect fit. 11 years later, we’re still here, and sometimes I really can’t remember how it all happened. Small business is a whirlwind.  

Why did you decide to run for a position on the board?

The pandemic had a big impact on my view of community. Pre-Covid I felt like an isolationist. I kept my head down and plowed through, focused solely on our business operations. Post-Covid and now 11 years in the industry I have a more holistic view of what we can accomplish together. A thriving cider industry is good for all of us. I would be lying if I also didn’t mention that I was getting a little stagnant in my position. The opportunity to branch out of my daily routine and make an impact invigorates me. As a political science and history double major there really is nothing more exciting than dropping a bill in Congress and trying to get it passed. I can’t wait to witness and be a part of the process for the Bubble Bill.  

What are your hopes for the future of the US Cider Industry?

I’d like to see cider valued for the artful product that it is. The entire industry has been working for a long time to overcome stereotypes about our category. The fact is that the US is producing some fantastic cider and I think that the public is finally catching on that cider is a versatile, creative and sophisticated  beverage. Not to mention it tastes damn good. 

How do you describe your cider region? 

The South is full of old generational apple farms. Many of which in our area used to grow for Gerber. Urban Orchard has made it a point to always buy local, and now it’s as important as ever. Asheville is booming and the housing market is hungry for land. Many farms are considering sales to real estate developers and farming is a tough gig. Now that Gerber is gone, cider is stepping in as a value added product for growers. While the majority of our fruit is dessert and eating apples, we think that you can craft fantastic cider from blending the variety of cultivars which provide some lovely acids and great sugar content.  

What’s your favorite apple to work with and why?

I don’t really have a favorite apple. While the apple is always the star in Urban Orchard products, I really enjoy experimentation with complementary fruits, herbs, vegetables, hot peppers, etc. That may set me apart from a lot of producers as I am not a traditionalist, but my passion comes from a culinary inquisitiveness and it’s the most fun aspect of the business to me.  

What is your favorite cider/food pairing? 

Ginger infused cider and sushi (yum). Really any nice cider with spicy Asian food is delicious. Cider and ice cream is also very tasty.

What is your favorite nature/cider pairing?

Cider on the beach baby! A better beverage has never been made for a hot day in the sun.

What would you like our members to know about you that they might not know? –non-cider related!

Traveling is my passion, as well as staying fit by challenging myself at the gym, outdoor activities, dancing and yoga. I have two energetic Airedales and a blind little poodle who keep me on my toes. I recently became a certified scuba diver and went to Norway to swim with Orcas! I also do volunteer work such as working the polls during elections, planning fundraisers for food security, and assisting with care for mistreated animals.