Where to find unpasteurized apple cider?

[ron_newman]

Where can I buy unpasteurized apple cider?

I haven't seen any in the Davis Square farmers' market all season. I saw it once last month at the Harvard Science Center farmers' market, didn't buy it then, and never saw it there again. Pemberton Farms doesn't sell it, though they used to. Who does?

Comments

[jaschonh.livejournal.com]

What about Sherman's new market in Union Square?

[ron_newman]

Good suggestion. I called them and they don't carry it, but maybe they'll special order some for me. I left my name and number with someone there. They said that it is tricky to carry this item because it has such a short shelf life.

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

Sherman's has a market?? Guess I haven't been over that way in a while.

[ron_newman]

Sherman Market is brand new, opened within the last month. It's not attached to the cafe but is around the corner from it.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Friend of mine who only drinks unpasteurized says Russell Orchards in Ipswich, AppleCrest in Exeter, NH, or the Franklin County cider festival. Hm. Hope you can find closer :/. (Russell Orchards has totally amazing cider donuts, though...)

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

As that someone (who will only drink unpasteurized cider), if you can't find it locally, drop me an email and I can pick up a gallon or three for you at the Cider Day Festival (http://www.ciderday.org/) this weekend. There are a couple of participating farms that even sell varietals, so I could get you all Baldwin or all Russet or even pear cider. I could meet you at the Davis Sq. Starbucks for an exchange Monday morning.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

Oh. Uh. You can email me at genevramcneil (at) gmail.com.

[ron_newman]

If I can't find any at Dave's Fresh Pasta tomorrow, I'll take you up on that offer. Given the short shelf life and that I'll be consuming it all myself, I definitely won't want more than a gallon.

Edit: Dave's didn't have it either, even though they told me on the phone that they did. So I've e-mailed you.

[turil.livejournal.com]

From what I understand it's not legal to sell it raw anymore. There was some change to the laws a few years ago. I'm guessing that if you buy it at the place that makes it, it might be legal, but it's definitely not allowed in stores anymore.

It's actually a federal law, it seems...

[turil.livejournal.com]

According to Wikipedia:

In 2001 the regulations were finalized, the FDA issuing a rule requiring that virtually all juice producers follow Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) controls, using either heat pasteurization, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) or other proven methods.[9] As a result, all apple cider sold in the United States, other than sales directly to consumers by producers (such as juice bars and roadside farmstands), must be produced using HACCP principles to achieve a "5 log" reduction in pathogens.[10]

My guess is that a lot of local farms don't even make it at all.

So sad...

Re: It's actually a federal law, it seems...

[arinamay.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I used to buy unpasteurized cider all the time during college in Indiana (we made our own hard cider from it). We would buy it at local apple orchards. College for me was 2004-2008, so apple orchards may still sell it, even after this law.

Of course, urban Massachusetts might be a little different from rural Indiana on this issue!

Right...

[turil.livejournal.com]

It's legal to sell raw cider directly to the consumer, but not to a middleman, such as a store or distributor.

Re: Right...

[arinamay.livejournal.com]

I understand. I was responding to your guess "that a lot of local farms don't even make it at all." Local farms in Indiana do!

Re: Right...

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Yes, most orchards in Massachusetts make it and sell it as well.

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

I bring mine in from NH, since I know folk who come down weekly from there

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

I got some a few weeks ago at Cider Hill farm in Amesbury. I suspect your best bet is to find a local orchard that makes their own and buy it directly from them.

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

I buy mine from Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow. They used to bring it in coolers to farmer's markets (this was about 10 years ago), but then they stopped--I was told it was because there was a new requirement to keep it refrigerated.

[justjess.livejournal.com]

I get mine at Hackleboro Orchards in Canterbury, NH. It's a bit of a haul from down here, but I've been friends with the family who owns the orchard since I was a kid and is totally worth the trip.