Engelsma’s Apple Barn of Walker won first place in the 23rd annual Michigan Apple Cider Contest, marking its sixth first-place finish in the contest. The competition took place Dec. 11 at DeVos Convention Center, with 24 Michigan cider makers participating. 

“This cider contest was created to help promote the Michigan apple cider industry,” says Bob Tritten, district fruit educator with Michigan State University Extension and founder of the contest. “This year, we had 24 amazing participants from all over the state of Michigan.”

Erwin Orchards in South Lyon, Mich., owned by Bill and Linda Erwin and Bill Emery, won second place in the contest. The third-place winner was Rochester Cider Mill of Rochester, Mich.

“The annual cider contest is a great way for cider makers to connect and learn from one another,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, co-sponsor of the contest. “Cider makers put in a lot of hard work to make their delicious cider, whether it be growing their own apples or changing up their recipe to make the best cider.”

The Michigan Apple Cider Contest began in 1996. Tritten created the contest to help 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.

Source: Michigan Apple Committee, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.