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Happy International Women’s Day! 

What is this day for? International Women’s Day is a day to bring awareness to the lack of gender equity on our planet. Where does the U.S. fall in gender equity progress? The gender gap in pay is one measure of dynamic inequalities–just last year, U.S. “women earned 82% of what men earned, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers.” (Pew Research) Researchers also found that this number hasn’t changed much in 20 years. 

As a cider industry, we can take steps to ensure we are part of progress on gender equity. Here are a few ways your cidery can lead the way on gender equity in hiring and HR:

• Post all jobs with a pay rate. 
• Avoid using gendered pronouns in job descriptions. 
• Evaluate your pay scales for equality–are people earning the same wage for similar positions?
• Use established skill-based assessments to promote. 
• Invest in making sure your company and your establishment are taking proactive steps to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination. 
• Increase women and non-binary representation in leadership and decision-making teams. 

In what ways are you promoting gender equity at your cidery? 

Did you miss Dr. J’s presentation at CiderCon® on Retaining Great Talent? Her tips are useful for recruiting and retaining a talented gender-diverse workforce. Check out her slides here.

Celebrate Women’s Voices

The cider industry has an extremely talented community of women doing incredible work. We’re celebrating International Women’s Day by sharing some of their stories with you. And to double the celebration–all these stories were written by women beverage journalists and storytellers! Enjoy this collection of recent publications by women, about women, and for cider!*

Cider Chat Podcast by Ria Windcaller –ACA 2023 Significant Impact Winner

• Super Power of the Bradford Pear with Eliza Greenman
• Cider Heroine Judith Maloney
• Variety Tips with the Quince Queen

Prohibitchin’ Newsletter by Beth Demmon 

• Olivia Maki is a Work In Progress
• The Cider Jawns are Paving a New Path
• Monique Tribble and Her Path to Joy

Courage and Other C Words by Jenn Martell

• One-on-One with Tegan of Lost Boy Cider
• One-on-One with Maggie and Morgan of Two-Broads Cider
• One-on-One with Jennie of ACA

Cider Culture

• Cidermaker Q&A: DOPE Cider House and Winery  with Malaika Tyson –ACA 2023 Significant Impact Winner
• Women Making Waves in the Cider World: Elizabeth Ryan of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider by Malaika Tyson
• Women Making Waves in the Cider World: Gretchen Esbensen of Shoal Draft Cider by Malaika Tyson

CiderCraft Magazine

• Meriwether’s Taproom Manager Mixes it Up on Netflix Series by Molly Allen
• Book Review: The Lost Orchards by Liz Copa by Darlene Hayes –ACA 2020 Significant Impact Winner
• 4 Questions with Elle Correll, Co-Owner of Buskey Cider by Stasia Brewcynski

And Some Women-Created Stories About Apples That We Love:

• From Apples to Fromage: 5 episodes of cheese and cider pairing goodness from Talia Haykin and Colleen Vidlocker
• Apple of My Eye: Foxwhelp by Lily Waite for Pellicle Magazine
• Stoke Red: Small-Town Apple Wins Big Competition  by Darlene Hayes for Cidercraft Magazine

*Friendly reminder cider members–make sure you have Michelle McGrath on your press list. We want to elevate your press!

The American Cider Association is pleased to share that they will be hosting three book signing events in the Northwest with esteemed global cider ambassador and celebrated drinks author Claude Jolicoeur. Come to one of the events to learn more about cider and perry making traditions from around the world, take home a signed copy of his delighful book Cider Planet, and enjoy a refreshing cider. Books and cider will be available for sale at all events. Cider and books––what pairs better than that?

Book signing events will be held at the following:

• March 10, 2023 at 6:00 PM at The Place, 1212-D SE Powell, Portland, OR
• March 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Crush Cider Café, 1020 Wasco St., Hood River, OR
• March 15, 2023 at 5:00pm at Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 124 Center Rd., Chimacum, WA

Let us know you’ll be joining on Facebook!

Can’t make any of these three events? Claude will be presenting at the Northwest Cider Symposium in Tacoma, WA on March 14, 2023 and signing books as well. You must have registered for the Symposium in order to attend.

The American Cider Association announced on September 15, 2022 that they awarded eight new beverage professionals with the esteemed title of Certified Pommelier™. The new cohort passed the required exam on August 18 at the Angry Orchard Innovation Cider House in Walden, New York. The new Certified Pommeliers™ are from New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Russia. From New York are Elissa Booth, Joe Gaynor, and Matt Wynkoop of Angry Orchard; Paige Flori of Boutique Wines, Spirits and Cider; Meredith Collins of the blog Along Came A Cider,; and currently residing in New York–cider enthusiast Marina Borsalina from Russia. From Virginia is Joshua Corl of Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewery, and from North Carolina is cider enthusiast Adam Snyder.

Cider is a beautifully nuanced beverage with a diverse set of elements that are often misunderstood by food and beverage professionals. Certifications are increasingly used in the professional realm to set oneself apart as an individual with specialized knowledge, though cider is often covered in a cursory manner by most certification programs, if at all.

“At the center of what we do at Angry Orchard is innovation, and education is at its core. We were thrilled to host a Certified Pommelier™ exam on the East coast and give more industry members the opportunity to advance their education,” says Will Loughlin, Certified Pommelier™ and Assistant Cidermaker at the Angry Orchard Innovation Cider House. “We see the Pommelier certification as an excellent tool to highlight exceptional individuals, as well as the cider industry as a whole. We’re thrilled to see interest in the exam growing and gaining more standing alongside wine and beer programs.”

The American Cider Association established its Certified Cider Professional (CCP) program in 2016 to educate those on the front-line of cider sales. The program began with a Level 1 certification to help those in the  industry develop a fundamental understanding of cider. Recently, the ACA was pleased to celebrate 2000 Certified Cider Professionals. 

The Certified Pommelier™ certification was developed to move beyond a fundamental understanding and to encourage cider professionals to think critically while demonstrating a higher understanding of the elements of cider. The rigorous test consists of five types of questions: short answer, fill in the blank, matching, essay and blind sensory (based on tasting). 

“The Certified Pommelier™ exam is designed to be challenging, ” says Michelle McGrath, Executive Director of the ACA. “However, accessibility remains important. We’re rolling out more and more study aids in 2022, with a book on the horizon.” 

The next Certified Pommelier™ exam is planned for February 1, 2023 at CiderCon® 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. You can learn more and register for the exam at CiderCon® 2023 on the ACA website.

The ACA asks that you contact Cider Education Outreach Manager Jennie Dorsey if you have questions about the program or are interested in taking either the Level 1 Certified Cider Professional test or the Certified Pommelier™ exam. You can also learn more at https://ciderassociation.org/certification. 

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