Membership
Meet Your 2025 Board of Director Candidates
The American Cider Association was founded 12 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 2025 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, February 6, 2025 via email at 8:30 AM Central 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 Central Time on Friday, February 7, 2025.
This year there are 5 open seats on the ACA Board of Directors. They are:
- At-Large Seat
- Large Cidery Seat
- Regional Chair – East
- Regional Chair – Pacific Coast
- Regional Chair – South
Please take the time to learn about the candidates running for the 2025 ACA Board by reading about them below. Candidates are listed by position for which they are running, and then alphabetically if more than one candidate is running for a seat.
At-Large Seat
Christine Walter
Christine grew up on her family’s farm, Bauman Farms, in rural Oregon. Raising apples and pressing juice with her family are some of her earliest memories. She studied biochemistry in college, and started and ran a small retail company for 22 years before discovering and quickly falling in love with cider. It took her a couple years to convince her family that cider was a real thing and that I might be able to make it on the farm if they would only let her use a small corner of a barn to launch Bauman’s Cider. As you can imagine she has since taken over the whole barn, and created a huge following among her family. She is also currently a member of the board of the The Cider Institute of North America and regular guest instructor.
Candidate Statement
I personally straddle the line between making nuanced, apple-honoring traditional ciders and pushing the edge of innovation in dessert apple-centric recipe-driven ciders. With exceptional quality as my guiding light, I seek always to grow the pool of people who hold cider in high regard. The more people who appreciate the art and craft of cider, and the more people who look for it when they choose to drink, the better we can all do as an industry to foster relationships, build diversity and to contribute to the social and financial economy of the communities we live in.
Large Cidery Seat
Ben Calvi
Ben Calvi is the Director of Cider Making for Vermont Hard Cider Co. in Middlebury, Vermont. Previously, he made cider at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, Vermont, and wines at Esser Vineyards and Quintessa in the Napa Valley, for Burklin-Wolf in Germany, and at the Robert Mondavi Institute in Davis, California. Ben lives on a tiny apple orchard in nearby Cornwall with his wife, Sophie, and two children, Arthur and Delfina. He joined the American Cider Association board of directors in 2016.
Candidate Statement
As a board director for the ACA since 2016, I bring continuity, valuable perspective, and a wealth of experience. I am currently serving as interim Vice President on the executive committee. Over the years, my board service has focused on supporting key initiatives, including the founding of the CCP and DEI committees, and spearheading Legislative efforts. It is crucial for cider makers to continue fostering unity and a shared voice, enabling us to effectively showcase American ciders in an ever-evolving, hyper-competitive beverage landscape. Together, we can ensure the future success and growth of the cider industry.
Regional Chair – East
Eleanor Léger
Eleanor Léger is the Founder of Eden Specialty Ciders of Vermont. Eden was established in 2007, and is a leading producer of ice ciders and heritage ciders. Eleanor has served on the Board of the American Cider Association, as a member of the Vermont Working Landscape Enterprise Board, and was a founder of the Vermont Cider Makers Association. In addition to leading the team at Eden, Eleanor writes about the economics of small cider production at Cidernomics.com
Candidate Statement
Hello from Vermont. It has been a great honor to serve as Eastern Region Chair. I’ve met so many wonderful cider makers of all sizes and types from across our large region. I’ve traveled to Philly CiderWeek and the PA Cider Fest to the Hudson Valley and the Finger Lakes, Franklin County Cider Days, Cider Feasts, and Maine Apple Camp. Whenever I’m in conversation at the ACA Board, I’m thinking of all of you, your needs, and how we can work together to make the cider business easier, more visible in the market, and more successful. I’m looking forward to supporting our new CEO and our Board President, and partnering with NY and PA Cider Associations, as we continue to fight for things like bubble-tax relief, harvest dates, and ensuring our continued ability to ship DTC. Don’t ever hesitate to contact me with your questions, concerns and ideas!
Regional Chair – Pacific Coast
Tom Hart
Tom Hart began his cider journey as the first employee at Humboldt Cider Company in 2015. He became a co-owner in late 2016 and has been following his passion for apples ever since. Tom’s cider journey started in the cellar cleaning tanks, pressing apples and pitching yeasts, and has grown to include nearly all aspects of the industry since then. He currently helps manage two orchards, runs Humboldt Cider’s sales and distribution departments and handles the day-to-day issues that come with owning a small business.
Tom has worked with California State Parks and the National Park Service on historic orchard restoration projects, including the restoration of the Tower House orchard after the devastating 2018 Carr Fire. His love of history has led him to become a quasi-expert on Albert Etter and he helps maintain Etter’s 1894 homestead orchard. Tom derives a lot of his industry passion from these areas and hopes to work with the ACA to help highlight cider’s rich history and deep roots in his region and country.
Candidate Statement
I am excited for the opportunity to work with the ACA and represent cider companies large, medium and small for the Pacific Coast region. I believe it is important to take a big tent approach and listen to all the opinions and needs of cideries in our region. It is my goal to help make the ACA more accessible to individual companies and highlight our region’s rich history, contributions and desires at the national level. I know how hard it is to run a small business in our industry, and I will work diligently to assist and advocate for the Pacific Coast region at the national level in any way I can. My door is always open.
Regional Chair – South
Daron Ford
Since 2006, I’ve pursued a passion for fermentation science crafting wine across Napa Valley, Western Australia, and Northern Michigan, as well as brewing beer and cider in my home state of Minnesota. Now living in Williamsburg, VA, with my wife and three boys, I’m focused on bringing modern ciders to Coastal Virginia at Sly Clyde Ciderworks. With a background in life sciences, art, and business, I bring a unique blend of scientific technique and creativity to the cider world.
Candidate Statement
I bring a serious passion for science, creativity, and business efficiency to the ACA. My experience with producers of all sizes gives me insight into our industry needs at every scale. As Southern regional chair, I will advocate for our unique challenges, foster connections among producers, and amplify the voice of our special region. I’m committed to maximizing our resources, contributing scientific expertise, and collaborating on innovative solutions. Dedicated and approachable, I aim to build on our impressive foundation, represent you effectively, and celebrate our shared successes – ideally over a glass of cider.
Scott Spelbring
Scott Spelbring is Director of Winemaking and Cidermaking for Bluemont Vineyard and Henway Hard Cider, located in Northern VA at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a passion for crafting exceptional beverages and using local resources, Scott’s 15 years of wine and cidermaking combines innovative techniques and traditional methods to create unique wines and ciders that reflect the region’s rich agricultural heritage. Always creating, Scott thrives on “start-ups” and building brands and was involved in the music industry and internet technology prior to wine and cider. He is a Virginia Cider Association board member.
Candidate Statement
As an advocate for craft beverages and a dedicated member of our cider community, I have witnessed firsthand the potential of our region’s cider industry. My vision is to strengthen collaboration, help amplify our voices in national and local conversations, and foster a vibrant culture of cider appreciation. Our industry is shaped by passionate large and small business owners who pour their hearts into their craft and it’s vital that we create a supportive ecosystem to help them succeed through wide ranging initiatives. Whether it’s supporting legislation such as the Bubble Bill Modernization Act, creating marketing initiatives and consumer connections or supporting entry level cider-makers and cideries I want to help drive cider forward! Together, we can grow and foster our industry while preserving its unique heritage.
January 30: The Future of Hard Cider: Innovation and Market Trends for the Top Producers
Description:
Join us for an ACA member exclusive webinar hosted by 3-Tier Beverages in partnership with the American Cider Association. This event will take a deep dive into the performance of the top hard cider producers over the past year, providing key insights into how leading cider brands have navigated the ever-evolving bev-alc market and what strategies they’ve employed to achieve growth and success.
What to Expect:
- Market Performance Analysis: Get an in-depth analysis of year-over-year sales trends, market share, and overall growth of the top hard cider producers.
- Key Industry Trends: Discover emerging trends and consumer preferences that have shaped the hard cider market, and the strategies top producers have implemented to stay ahead.
- Challenges and Opportunities: Understand the challenges faced by the industry and its ever shifting consumer demands. Learn how the leading brands have turned these challenges into opportunities.
- Innovation in Hard Cider: Explore how innovation, both in product types and methods of marketing, is driving the success of top cider makers. Learn about the latest cider varieties, and flavor innovations.
Member Highlight: Hale & True
Cidery Name
Where are you located and when did you start?
Located in Philadelphia, we opened our doors in 2018 (but made cider for years before that).
Describe your cidery in three words:
Welcoming, comfortable, accessible
What inspired you to start making cider?
A love of fermentation!
Describe your cider making style:
Highlighting local Pennsylvania apples and thoughtfully incorporating other ingredients to create ciders that are balanced yet complex.
What is your favorite cider that you make?
The Standard
What exciting plans or new releases do you have coming up:
We released Goldberry in August, a seasonal cider co-fermented with strawberries and finished with lemon. We also host a lot of events at our taproom, have a new partnership with a Philadelphia restaurant for food.
Where can cider enthusiasts find your products?
At our taproom in Philadelphia, online for shipping through our website, and at stores, bars, and restaurants throughout the Philadelphia region.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy cider?
After a day enjoying the outdoors, ideally alongside our friends and family.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone new to making cider or wanting to start a cidery?
From Risa on business: Be extremely persistent and remain true to yourself! From Kerry on cidermaking: Learn how to make a clean, consistent, and delicious cider from just apples before experimenting with additions.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of cidermaking?
Being outdoors (hiking, running, biking, climbing, swimming), music, our dog.
Member Highlight: Rebel Sheep Wine Co.
Cidery Name:
Where are you located and when did you start?
Located in Chester, New Jersey. Opened in 2024
Describe your cidery in three words:
Innovative, sustainable, rebellious
What inspired you to start making cider?
We farm around 500 acres in our area. In 2021 our apple crop came into full production, and we had an abundance of apples. We decided making cider would be a great addition to our farm and a unique way to cut down on food waste.
Describe your cider making style:
Spontaneous. We use only our own apples and focus on using all natural ingredients from our farm that bring out the best qualities of New Jersey fruit. We rely on the seasons to decide what cider we make.
What is your favorite cider that you make?
Hopposites Attract. We blended a cider with a strawberry wine and then dry hopped it.
What exciting plans or new releases do you have coming up:
A lot of plans are in the works. We just opened in 2024 so we are still figuring out what blends we like and what our signature flavors will be.
Where can cider enthusiasts find your products?
Our tasting room and various farmers markets that we attend throughout Northern New Jersey.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy cider?
With our homemade Apple Cider Donuts.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone new to making cider or wanting to start a cidery?
Don’t get discouraged when your cider does not turn out perfectly. Trial and error is part of the process until you find out what works best.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of cidermaking?
Farming 500 acres of fruits and vegetables doesn’t leave a lot of time for hobbies, but attending workshops and listening to cider and wine podcasts is enjoyable.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
New Jersey has farms and makes great wine and cider! We are the Garden State for a reason!
American Cider Association Partners With Great American Beer Festival® Competition to Welcome Cider
The American Cider Association (ACA), the national trade organization for the hard cider industry, is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®) Competition. This collaboration will see the introduction of cider as a prominent category in the esteemed annual competition, set to take place this October in Denver, Colorado. GABF, organized by the Brewers Association (BA), is the nation’s largest professional beer competition. Its medals are globally acknowledged as an emblem of brewing excellence and among the most sought-after accolades within the brewing community.
The GABF competition started in 1987 and has grown to be one of the largest beer competitions in the world, with over 9,000 individual beers entering each year. In 2023, 9,298 entries spanning 99 beer categories across 175 styles were judged, and 263 breweries were awarded 303 medals.
“The medals are meaningful to the winners due to the competition’s reputation with retailers and wholesalers. This is one of the many reasons that GABF opening its doors to cider is something we’re excited about,” says ACA’s CEO Michelle McGrath. “Although cider is not beer, the two categories have a lot in common–especially routes to market–making collaboration possible and exciting.”
The BA welcomes the ACA partnership by including ACA’s input on styles and judges and extends the BA member competition entry rate to ACA’s cidery-level members. GABF registration opened on June 11, and the ACA cidery-level members can find instructions for submitting their entries in the ACA Resource Hub.
“The Great American Beer Festival competition serves as a platform for the finest beers from across the nation to undergo rigorous scrutiny and vie for the title of ‘Best in Class,’” remarked Chris Williams, competition director for the Great American Beer Festival. “This year, we are pleased to invite the more than 1,300 commercial cider producers to compete for medals in the inaugural cider categories.”
“There is a global ecosystem of cider competitions that provide a range of services to the cider industry, including professional cider education, networking, recognition, and category development,” says McGrath. “We value all the various competitions and are thrilled to welcome GABF into the world of cider competitions.”
The BA sees this as the beginning of developing cider at GABF and hopes to work with the ACA to grow entries and styles in subsequent years.
The consumer-facing festival—the nation’s largest beer festival—also showcases cider and other beverages, and the ACA will be present at the festival this fall.
Learn more about the GABF competition here. ACA members can log into their ACA member accounts starting June 11 and head to the Resource Hub for information on how to get member rate discounts to enter cider in GABF 2024.
Member Rate Increase and New Member Levels Notification
We love cider! At ACA we are deeply committed to supporting the industry and our members so that the US cider community can be strong today and continue thriving for years to come.
So it goes without saying, we also love our members. That’s one reason why we haven’t increased our membership dues for more than 7 years. We know your resources are limited, and for this reason, we take our fee structure and your benefits very seriously. But the time has come to adjust our membership rates slightly, so we can continue growing our education and advocacy programming. We are also adding some new membership levels to better meet demand.
PAYING DUES EARLY
If you would like to pay your next annual dues early, we will be happy to honor the current rate before the increases take place on July 1. Please contact our membership and engagement coordinator Miranda for more information.
VOTING LEVEL MEMBERS
Active US Cideries (Organizational Membership Type)
The American Cider Association’s bylaws define voting level members as any commercial producer of cider and/or perry with production in the United States of America with a valid, current Federal winery license issued by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)–a requirement for all commercial cider producers in the United States.
Voting level member dues will increase on July 1, 2024. The range in increase will depend on your membership level. These increases will help the ACA to continue delivering relevant and impactful programs to support your business’s bottom line, make your life easier with access to helpful resources and expertise, and cultivate a healthy US cider industry and community.
These memberships are an example of an Organizational Membership Type, where all employees are eligible and included in the membership for no additional cost.
| US Commercial Cidery Membership Levels | Prior Dues | New Dues | Rate Increase |
| Annual production of 1-5,000 gal/year | $175 | $185 | 6% |
| Annual production of 5,001-25,000 gal/year | $350 | $370 | 6% |
| Annual production of 25,001-100,000 gal/year | $500 | $550 | 10% |
| Annual production of 100,001-500,000 gal/year | $1,000 | $1,150 | 15% |
| Annual production of 500,001-1,000,000 egal/year | $2,000 | $2,300 | 15% |
| Annual production of > 1,000,000 gal/year | $3,000 | $3,450 | 15% |
ALLIED MEMBERS
Allied members are not voting level members per ACA’s bylaws.
Cideries-in-planning (Organizational Membership Type)
Before a cidery begins commercial production, they may join as allied members to get access to the helpful resources available to ACA members.
- The dues for US-based Cidery-In-Planning members will increase 6% to $185 annually.
- The new Cidery-In-Planning member type for International Members will be $196 annually.
Enthusiasts (Individual Membership Type)
We are excited to add a second enthusiast type membership specifically for bartenders, sommeliers, beverage directors, chefs and other food, beverage and hospitality professionals.
- The Hospitality membership type will be $75 per person annually.
- The home cidermaker/enthusiast membership will remain $75 per person annually.
Retailers, Bars, Restaurants and Wholesalers (Organizational Membership Type)
Retailers, bars, restaurants or wholesalers who sign up as allied members can include all their employees in their membership with no added fee.
- Independent Retailers, Bars, Restaurants and Wholesalers: $250 per company annually
- Corporate and Chain Retailers, Bars, Restaurants: $385 per company annually
Allied Trade (Organization Membership Type)
The ACA is lucky to have the support of vendors, suppliers, service providers and partner organizations who believe in our programming to support the cider industry. (Please note that Allied Trade member benefits apply to an organization’s employees, not members, volunteers, subsidiaries or clients.)
- Allied Trade Memberships: $375 per company per year
Orchards (Organizational Membership Type)
We are adding two different types of farm memberships for fruit growers based on farm revenue. For now these memberships use the USDA farm designations to differentiate. We are developing specific benefits for our grower members, and are looking into how to designate our members that are both growers and cider producers. Stay tuned!
- Family Farms (<$500,000 gross annual sales): $195 per farm annually
- Commercial Farms (>$500,000 gross annual sales) $375 per farm annually
International Cider Producer Members (Organizational Membership Type)
We are privileged to have international cideries participate in ACA programming year round. We’re refining our international cidery level member fees as follows:
| Int’l Commercial Cidery Membership Levels | Dues |
| Annual production of 1-5,000 gal/year | $ 196 |
| Annual production of 5,001-25,000 gal/year | $ 383 |
| Annual production of 25,001-100,000 gal/year | $ 567 |
| Annual production of 100,001-500,000 gal/year | $ 1,155 |
| Annual production of 500,001-1,000,000 gal/year | $ 2,300 |
| Annual production of > 1,000,000 gal/year | $ 3,500 |
THANK YOU, MEMBERS!
We’re looking forward to continuing working with you and for you! Together we can grow and nurture a robust and diverse cider industry. We appreciate your support. We can’t do it without you!
April 12: Member Orientation Webinar
Join us for our Member Orientation on April 12 at 11:00 AM Pacific
We are thrilled to announce that we will be holding our first ever Member Orientation webinar! There is such a vast amount of resources that the ACA offers to you all and we want to make sure that you know where to find them and how to take advantage of them. Miranda, our new Membership Coordinator will be leading a short video to go over who we are as an organization, the benefits of being a member, and a tour of our website. We have made a few changes to make the things that you are looking for most, more easily accessible. She will also discuss the easiest ways to manage your membership, give your team access to the membership portal, and answer any questions you may have.
The Orientation will take place via Zoom on April 12th at 11:00am Pacific Standard Time. If you have any questions regarding the Orientation, feel free to reach out to our Membership & Engagement Coordinator Miranda Bradeen at miranda@ciderassociation.org. If you are unable to attend, the video will be recorded and you will be able to watch it at a time that is convenient for you.
We look forward to seeing you there!
May 13: 2024 Annual Membership Meeting
We’re thrilled to invite you to join us on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 12:00 PM Pacific on Zoom for our 2024 Annual Membership Meeting.
During the meeting, we’ll reflect on our accomplishments from the past year, take a close look at our new strategic plan, and discuss how we work together under the big tent of cider in the upcoming year to sustainably grow the cider industry. After the meeting, we’ll have an optional virtual cider hang for anybody wanting to network with your cider peers. Let’s lift a glass together to the great year ahead!
Please note that you must be an Active ACA Member to attend the meeting, but don’t worry if you’re not yet one, you can join or renew your membership by clicking here.
We’ll send you the Zoom link before the meeting on May 13, 2024, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox. We look forward to seeing you all virtually and celebrating the cider industry.
New Member Discount from Brewbound!
The ACA and Brewbound are pleased to announce a new partnership! Brewbound is offering ACA Members a 25% discount on their Insider subscription. Members can find their discount code in our Resource Hub.
Insiders receive access to all Brewbound site content, the Insider-exclusive newsletter, special virtual events and video content, and discounts on their events and job board.
Brewbound is a leading industry trade publication providing comprehensive information about the beverage space, analysis of industry trends, and in-depth interviews with industry leaders.
Meet Your 2024 ACA Board of Directors
Last Friday, the American Cider Association (ACA) announced the results of their annual Board of Directors Election at their 2024 industry trade conference, CiderCon®, held this year in Portland, Oregon. There were two At-Large positions up for grabs, with 7 candidates in the running.
Josie Mielke of Urban Orchards Cidery in Asheville, North Carolina and Shannon Edgar of Stormalong Cider in Sherborn, Massachusetts were elected as Directors At-Large. Both new board members bring a shared passion for the land and communities that they are a part of. Their unique perspective of establishing and growing their cider businesses within the last 10 years will meaningfully contribute to the perspective of the ACA Board of Directors and how the ACA can support the cider industry.
New ACA Board Members
Josie Mielke is the Operations Director and founder of Urban Orchard Cider Company in Asheville, North Carolina. 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, Josie has championed North Carolina agriculture, by committing to purchase apples from North Carolina. Her cidery has only purchased juice from Hendersonville, North Carolina in the 11 seasons they have produced cider. Josie strongly believes in promoting the local economy, supporting local farmers, and knowing where your food comes from.
Shannon Edgar founded Stormalong Cider in 2014 in the pursuit of making ciders that showcase the unique flavors fermented from cider-friendly apples. Taking inspiration from the hard cider history in his adopted home of Sherborn, MA, the historical nature of some of these apple varieties and their connection to New England history has always been an interest to him. Over the last 9 years, Stormalong has grown into a passionate team of “Cider Geeks” evangelizing cider with a deep appreciation for apples and their craft.
2024 Officers Announced
The ACA Board Officers were also chosen by the incoming board of directors last week. The ACA is excited to announce:
-Christine Walter of Bauman’s Cider in Oregon as Board President
-Sarah Hemly of Hemly Cider in California as Vice President
-Dave Takush of 2 Towns Ciderhouse as Secretary
-John Behrens of Farmhaus Cider in Michigan as Treasurer.
Eleanor Legér, ACA Board President 2021-2024
Eleanor Legér of Eden Cider in Vermont was elected by her fellow directors as Board President in 2021. She is rotating off the executive committee to empower other leaders but will remain on the board in her continued role of Eastern Chair. First elected to the board in 2015, the ACA is incredibly grateful for her long and dedicated service to our mission and our members. She has served the role with honor!
Retiring Directors
Soham Bhatt and Brooke Glover are both retiring from their service as directors this year. The ACA is extremely grateful for their service and the unique perspectives they brought to the board.
Soham Bhatt served on the ACA Board of Directors in an At-Large position from 2021-2024. He started Artifact Cider Project in 2014, with co-founder Jake Mazar, with the desire to create exceptional cider that expresses the Northeast as it is today. With this philosophy and a commitment to helping sustain local orchards, especially in western Massachusetts, they started Artifact as a boot-strapped passion project that crisscrossed the state.
“Soham has been a very engaged and committed board member. He asks good questions and has a mind for strategy. He’s been critical to our education committee, and we’re excited that he will stay involved with our work to grow the Certified Cider Professional program moving forward,” said ACA CEO, Michelle McGrath.
Brooke Glover served on the ACA Board of Directors in an At-Large position from 2018-2024. Brooke is one of the owners of Swilled Dog Hard Cider, a family-owned company based out of West Virginia. Brooke is a Certified Cider Maker through CINA, Level I certified in Spirits through WSET, and a frequent lecturer at WVU. Her passions include dogs, family, learning, adventures, and tater tots.
“Brooke didn’t miss a single board meeting in her 6-year tenure on the board of directors. She has served on several ACA committees and has been a tremendous member of the ACA Executive Committee in her role as ACA Vice President,” McGrath said.
The ACA would like to thank all of the 2024 board candidates for their hard work and dedication not only in this election process but within the industry as a whole. We look forward to continuing to work together to push the envelope forward for cider in America.