GOSHEN, Ind. -- Frosts, storms, and bad pollinating weather are just a handful of issues providing poor apple yield this year.
“We lost probably about 85 percent of our crop, and I know a lot of other orchards, Southern Michigan, Indiana, have had the same kind of issues that we have had this year.”
Mollie Keiffer, owner of Kercher’s Orchards in Goshen, says with a stunted crop, a glass of locally made apple cider may be in short supply this year.
“So, just the decrease in apples means there's just going to be a limited amount of cider. So, we will we usually typically have cider throughout the whole year...We might not have it in the spring and summer.”
Lower supply and higher demand through autumn drives prices for apple cider up as well.
“I think it's been regional with price increase. It's going to happen when there's not a lot of apples. The cider apple price will go up but doesn't mean the quality isn't good.”
Of course, plenty of local small businesses are selling apple cider across our area, so if your favorite cider tap runs dry, perhaps branching out can cure your cider blues.
While the apples were ripening across Michiana, our area saw the right conditions to bring out more intense flavors in apples. Drier conditions lead the charge, as Keiffer says.
“When there's not a lot of rain, it doesn't water down the apple flavor. So, we had a really bad growing season, but the apples are probably one of the most flavorful seasons we've had.”