Kapnick Orchards Wins 21st Annual Cider Contest
Kapnick Orchards Wins 21st Annual Cider Contest
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cider makers Scott Robertello and Bruce Schaffer of Kapnick Orchards in Britton, Mich., took home first place in the 21st annual Michigan Apple Cider Contest. The cider contest took place at DeVos Convention Center on Wednesday, with 29 cider makers participating in the competition. This is the first Cider Contest win for Kapnick Orchards.
“This competition started more than 20 years ago with three goals: to help promote our fine Michigan apple cider industry, to improve the quality of our cider and to provide additional educational and learning opportunities for our cider makers. We’ve come a long way over the years,” said Bob Tritten, district fruit educator with Michigan State University Extension, and founder of the contest. “For this year’s contest we had 29 entries from across the state of Michigan. Judging took place with the help of nine judges that worked hard to choose the best of the best Michigan ciders.”
Schultz Fruitridge Farms in Mattawan., owned by Bill and Denise Schulz, won second place in the contest. The third place winner is Mike Koan of Koan Orchards in Flushing, MI.
“The Michigan apple cider industry is growing and improving each year,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, co-sponsor of the contest. “This competition serves as an opportunity for Michigan cider makers to gather and learn from each other. Many of the cider makers grow the apples themselves and spend years determining the perfect combination of apple varieties to create the best cider.”
Tritten began the Michigan Apple Cider Contest in 1996 to improve cider making, promote the industry and educate the public. The contest is sponsored by the Michigan Apple Committee, the Michigan State Horticultural Society and the Fruit Growers News.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit www.MichiganApples.com.