Articles
Toward a new generation of cider apple orchards in the northeastern United States
Article number
1395_53
Pages
401 – 408
Language
English
Abstract
With a US$ 1.7 B total economic impact in New York State (NY), hard (fermented) cider has become an important value-added product in the alcohol beverage sector.
Most of the states cider producers are using NY-grown apples, but large-scale hard cider producers are also importing apple juice concentrate from overseas.
However, a recent NY apple industry survey found that nearly 18% of all new apple orchard acres that will be planted in NY from 2020 to 2023 are projected to be specifically for cider production.
Additionally, in a recent economic case study, we showed that the current prices for cider apples (cultivars that typically have high tannin, acid, and/or sugar concentrations) made five out of six cider apple orchard operations profitable in NY. My research program has conducted cost of production studies, characterized over 375 potential cider apple cultivars, and developed orchard management practices that lead to greater fruit and thus cider quality.
We have identified several promising cultivars that appear to have the horticultural performance and juice quality attributes desired by regional cider producers.
For high-density orchard systems, we found that many cider apple cultivars should have twice the crop load as fresh-market cultivars to achieve the greatest long-term yields, juice quality, and profitability.
Furthermore, we found that the use of the exogenous plant growth regulators (ethephon and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid) did not increase return bloom, but 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and aminoethoxyvinylglycine can be used to manage preharvest fruit drop and harvest timing.
Future work is focusing on developing cider apple orchards that are best suited to mechanical harvesting.
In this paper, current research on management practices for producing cider apples in the northeastern United States will be reviewed.
Most of the states cider producers are using NY-grown apples, but large-scale hard cider producers are also importing apple juice concentrate from overseas.
However, a recent NY apple industry survey found that nearly 18% of all new apple orchard acres that will be planted in NY from 2020 to 2023 are projected to be specifically for cider production.
Additionally, in a recent economic case study, we showed that the current prices for cider apples (cultivars that typically have high tannin, acid, and/or sugar concentrations) made five out of six cider apple orchard operations profitable in NY. My research program has conducted cost of production studies, characterized over 375 potential cider apple cultivars, and developed orchard management practices that lead to greater fruit and thus cider quality.
We have identified several promising cultivars that appear to have the horticultural performance and juice quality attributes desired by regional cider producers.
For high-density orchard systems, we found that many cider apple cultivars should have twice the crop load as fresh-market cultivars to achieve the greatest long-term yields, juice quality, and profitability.
Furthermore, we found that the use of the exogenous plant growth regulators (ethephon and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid) did not increase return bloom, but 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and aminoethoxyvinylglycine can be used to manage preharvest fruit drop and harvest timing.
Future work is focusing on developing cider apple orchards that are best suited to mechanical harvesting.
In this paper, current research on management practices for producing cider apples in the northeastern United States will be reviewed.
Authors
G.M. Peck
Keywords
crop load, fruit quality, hard cider, Malus, mechanization, nitrogen, precision agriculture
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Working Group Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards
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