Cider Research Information Day

60 participants, representing 36 cideries as well as many from the apple industry attended the Cider Research Information Day organized by Dr. John Cline. The goal was to share the latest cider research being conducted in Simcoe  In addition, it was an opportunity to discuss new opportunities in the cider industry ranging for cider specific cultivars for the craft cider industry, cultural and pest management, economics, mechanization, juice chemistry  and fermentation. The meeting involved a tour of the research orchards followed by presentations by those from OMAFRA, the University of Guelph, the Ontario Craft Cider Association and Cornell University. 

Amanda Green, OMAFRA apple specialist, spoke about the cost for apple orchard establishment.

Derek Plotkowski, Ph.D. Candidate in the Cline Lab spoke about his research on the juice quality and young tree yield for the 29 traditional and potentially interesting apple cultivars selected specifically for cider production.

Nicolas Querques,  M.Sc. Candidate in the Cline Lab, spoke about his work on mechanical harvesting and crab apple potential for cider production.

Colleen Haskins, OMAFRA IPM specialist, spoke on insect and disease monitoring in the cider orchard. That was followed by Dr. Greg Peck, Assistant Professor at Cornell University, discussing his work on cider apple production in New York. Richard Liu, the director of the Ontario Craft Cider Association, spoke about the state of the craft cider industry in Ontario.

Professor George Van der Merwe, a yeast specialist in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, spoke about a recent grant that will allow for further research in cider from horticultural, microbiological, and business perspectives, among other approaches.

The meeting concluded with a cider tasting at Bonnieheath Estate Lavender and Winery in Norfolk County. 

(above) Dr. John Cline speaking to growers and other cider industry players at the Simcoe Research station cider information day.	(above) Ph.D. Student Derek Plotkowski telling the group about his PhD research on cider apple varieties for Ontario
M.Sc. Student Nicolas Querques discussing orchard harvest mechanisms and crab apple production	(above) Group at Cider Information Day