Natalie Hanson, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
The harvest is looking light for some apple growers, but new opportunities to process their fruit are underway as a cidermaker plans to open a new small press in Sebastopol.
Sebastopol-based Ethic Ciders on Aug. 5 announced a new partnership with Slow Food Russian River, made possible using a $90,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The cidermaker has invested in a commercial-grade apple press, which will open to local growers and home orchardists by early September.
The news of the local press comes following Gold Ridge Organic Farm’s announcement in June that it will open a 20,000-square-foot apple press facility in Santa Rosa, able to process about 50 tons of apples per day once operational. Owner Brooke Hazen said he wants to invest in the slow food and apple industries as vintners rip out vineyards amid declining wine profits.