Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill Wins 17th Annual Cider Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diane Smith
Executive Director
800-456-2753
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Alicia Estrada, Mary Krause and Mary Emmett of Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill took home first place in the 17th annual Michigan Apple Cider Contest. The cider contest took place at DeVos Convention Center on Wednesday, with 34 cider makers participating in the competition. Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill took home second place in last year’s contest.
“This competition started 18 years ago to promote Michigan apple cider and provide educational opportunities for cider makers,” said Bob Tritten, district fruit educator with Michigan State University Extension, and founder of the contest. “I would like to thank our nine judges, especially Harold Thome, who has served as a judge for every year of the contest. We have come a long way since the inception of this competition, and in my opinion, Michigan cider is the best in the world.”
Second place in the 2013 contest went to cider maker Jim Hill of Hill Brothers in Grand Rapids. Third place went to Jim and Becky Engelsma of Engelsma’s Apple Barn and Cider Mill in Walker. Engelsma’s were the first place winners in the 2012 contest.
“Michigan’s cider makers put a lot of hard work into their cider,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, co-sponsor of the contest. “Most of them grow the apples and work for years on just the right mix of varieties. The contestants take this competition very seriously. We are proud that Michigan can boast so many delicious ciders.”
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 MichiganApples.com.