Aug. 4 Webinar: Direct to Consumer Compliance

Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping of alcohol is on everyone’s minds these days, as consumers and suppliers alike look for better and easier ways to interact.

The success of wineries in growing DtC shipping to a $3.7 billion market is notable. As cider producers look to enter this channel, a solid understanding of DtC shipping laws and tax regulations is critical. 

Please join us for a look at how DtC shipping can work for cideries. Topics will include:

  • The current state of shipping beverage alcohol direct-to-consumer
  • The rules that govern DtC shipping of cider, from licensing requirements to tax remittances and more
  • How cider producers can create effective and compliant DtC shipping programs
  • Watch-outs and bewares
  • The role of industry-level efforts to expand the DtC alcohol shipping opportunity

CCP Level 1 Test Prep Is Going On Demand!

SPONSORS: Thank you to our 2021 CCP presenting sponsor, Petainer, and to our summer training sponsor, Arryved!

We are thrilled to announce that our introductory level Certified Cider Professional program is growing! Starting June 1, we’re launching a new Level 1 certification bundle. 

Pricing 

The Level 1 bundle is $99 for non-ACA members, $75 for members. The bundle includes:

  1. Detailed, updated study guide
  2. On-demand online training webinar (1.5 hours)
  3. Level 1 exam (2 attempts) 

Presale

Between now and June 1st we are offering a 10% off pre-sale price. This special intro price is just $89 for ACA Non-Members and $68 for Members. 

Test & Test Prep

The training and exam cover cider-specific facts in these key areas: (1) Apples, the orchard & history (2) Cider making (3) Evaluation (4) Families & Flavor (5) Keeping & serving (6) Food & cider. The closed-book exam has 60 multiple choice questions. The training materials include an updated, detailed study guide and a 1.5 hour webinar. Careful review of the study guide and webinar should prepare you to pass the exam! 

Who Should Become a CCP? 

First and foremost, if you sell cider, this program is for you. If you write about alcohol or food, this program is for you. If you just really love drinking cider, this program is for you. Maybe you run a beer-focused bottle shop with a cider section and want to learn more about cider? Maybe you hope to prove to your community’s cider drinkers that your shop knows its fermented apples?  Maybe you are a sommelier or beverage director and want to be able to chat more about cider with customers?  Maybe you are a distributor that wants to better understand the diversity and range of the cider category? 

We target the front line of cider sales as our primary audience for CCP, but anybody is welcome to take the test. There is no pre-requisite for the Level 1 exam. 

Meet Our New Team Member

We are also excited to announce that Jennie Dorsey has joined ACA as our parttime Cider Education Outreach Manager. Tuesday was her first day, but if you have questions about CCP, please do connect with Jennie

Join the Education Committee

ACA is actively recruiting applicants interested in joining our volunteer committees, including our Education committee. This committee identifies target audiences for ACA’s cider education programs such as CCP, reviews & helps create ACA educational content, brainstorms strategic new educational programming, steers development of the third level of CCP. Applications are due May 26. Learn more about serving and how to apply here

Visit our website today to reserve your Level 1 CCP Presale bundle! 

Fermentis Webinars for Cidermakers

Fermentis has a free webinar for cidermakers. You can check it out below and find links to register. Each webinar has two sessions, one for commercial cidermakers and one for home cidermakers, however, anyone is welcome to attend either session.


Upcoming Webinars: Coffee Chats with Vinoshipper

The American Cider Association is excited to share two upcoming webinars with Theresa Dorr of Vinoshipper that will be available to their members. Please read below for more information about these webinars and how to register. You must be an active ACA member to register for these events.

Join us for a Coffee Chat on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 10:00am Pacific Time with Theresa Dorr from Vinoshipper. Theresa will present the results of cidery sales across the country and the market trends for who is buying, what they are buying, where they are shipping, etc. She will also discuss considerations as to why a cidery might want to adjust to make the most of the trends.
Join us for a 2nd Coffee Chat with Theresa Dorr of Vinoshipper on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 10:00am Pacific Time. As the doors to tasting and tap rooms closed the challenge to open other sales windows began. Many turned to grow new online sales channels that had previously remained underdeveloped, and realized their sales could not only sustain, but they could grow. Some of us were lucky to have built a list of social media and email that could start the shift. Others started from scratch. Sales in 2020 soared. Did you get your portion of those sales? And are you ready to get your share of those sales in 2021 and beyond?

ACA Annual Membership Meeting

ACA Annual Membership Meeting, March 3, 2021 – 11:00am Pacific Time

Please join the American Cider Association to review last year’s accomplishments, take a look at our new strategic plan, and weigh in on our future activities to support the cider industry.

You must be an Active ACA Member to particpate in the Annual Membership Meeting. You can become a member or update your membership here.

Let Ellen know when your membership is up to date and she will send you the Zoom link!

Four Insightful Webinars Coming Up Soon!

CiderCon® Encore: Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Business Maturity with Stephanie Hartman February 18, 2021 – 9:30am Pacific Time

Brought to you by Ciderpros.com

Across stories of business owners’ ambitions and fears, Leadership Coach, Stephanie Hartman, found patterns of common pitfalls emerged at each phase of business maturity. For those who did not get help soon enough, the pitfalls ended their business—or the business survived at the cost of the owner’s health or relationships. Those who took necessary steps, restored balance in their lives and found renewed inspiration. In this presentation, Stephanie will share actionable tips to help you avoid the common pitfalls or escape them if you’re already there.

All CiderCon attendees will be emailed a link to the Zoom meeting prior to the date of the webinar. Didn’t attend CiderCon? ACA members can request a ticket by emailing Michelle.


Cider Business School: A Crash Course in Running Your Cidery as a Business February 24, 2021 – 11:00am Pacific Time

Brought to you be Ekos

You started your cidery because you love making cider, but no one told you most of your days would be spent behind a computer or in meetings handling the less glamorous aspects of your business. You don’t need an MBA to run a successful cidery, but there are some business basics you need to master, including operations, sales, and accounting. In this webinar, Ekos will provide an overview of what you need to know in each area, advice for how technology can help you be more efficient, and tips for taking your business to the next level. 


Certified PommelierGuided Tasting March 4, 2021 – 3:30pm Pacific Time

Brought to you by Arryved

The Certified Pommelier™ exam is a rigorous test of a beverage professional’s cider knowledge, including one’s ability to taste and evaluate an apple-driven cider. This workshop is an opportunity for students to practice using the formulated evaluation schema used in the Certified Pommelier™ tasting exam. Workshop registrants will be sent a link to purchase the cider that the instructors will be evaluating. Purchasing cider is optional.

Instructors:  Darlene Hayes & Tim Godfrey


CiderCon Encore: Driving Organizational Change with Stephanie Hartman March 11, 2021 – 9:30am Pacific Time

Brought to you by Ciderpros.com

For your facility move or new software to deliver on the promise of life being better, you’ll likely need some employees, customers or suppliers to stop doing something and start doing something else. In this presentation, Leadership Coach, Stephanie Hartman, will share a blend of academic theory and practical tools for addressing the tactical and emotional aspects of organizational change.

The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to all CiderCon attendees prior to the date of the course. Didn’t attend CiderCon? ACA members can request a ticket by emailing Michelle.

Three February 2021 Webinars

CiderCon Encore: Driving Organizational Change

February 11, 2021 – 9:30 am Pacific Time

Likely, you checked the Math to make sure your facility move, new software system, or acquisition was going to make or save your business money. Organizational changes can look good on paper but fail to deliver on the promise of increased profits or savings if the people impacts aren’t considered and managed. For your initiative to work, you’ll likely need some combination of employees, customers and suppliers to stop doing something and start doing something else. In this presentation by Stephanie Hartman of Catalyst Consulting, you will get a blend of academic theory and practical tools for addressing the tactical and emotional aspects of organizational change.

The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to all CiderCon attendees prior to the date of the course. Brought to you by CiderPros.com

CiderCon Encore: Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Business Maturity

February 18, 2021 – 9:30 am Pacific Time

Working with small business owners across many industries, Stephanie Hartman of Catalyst Consulting learned about their ambitions and the fears at the root of their missteps. Through these stories, she began to recognize common pitfalls at each phase of business maturity. For those who did not get help soon enough, the pitfalls either ended their business, or the business survived at the cost of the owner’s well-being or important relationships. Those who took necessary steps, restored balance in their lives and found new inspiration. Business thriving requires courage to look honestly at your contribution to the chaos and make tough decisions, about processes, people, and more. In this presentation, you will learn actionable tips to help you avoid the common pitfalls or escape them if you’re already there, giving you confidence about your next steps.

The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to all CiderCon attendees prior to the date of the course. Brought to you by CiderPros.com

Cider Business School: A Crash Course in Running Your Cidery as a Business

February 24, 2021 – 11:00am Pacific Time

You started your cidery because you love making cider, but no one told you most of your days would be spent behind a computer or in meetings handling the less glamorous aspects of your business. You don’t need an MBA to run a successful cidery, but there are some business basics you need to master, including operations, sales, and accounting. In this webinar, Ekos will provide an overview of what you need to know in each area, advice for how technology can help you be more efficient, and tips for taking your business to the next level. 

Register HERE!