Business

Citizen-Times: Hard cider venture may boost apple market

By Bill Moss, Published: June 2, 2013

The forecast is getting brighter for Henderson County apple farmers.

The absence of a killing frost this year has left apple trees heavy with buds for 2013. A new Asheville venture could boost the market for a potentially plentiful crop with its new hard cider. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Noble Cider adds one more buyer Henderson County farmers could see.
Cider company buys local apples

"There is such a market and enthusiasm around craft beer in Asheville, and Henderson County is home to one of the largest apple-growing communities in the country," Matt Raker, vice president of entrepreneurship for AdvantageWest, told the Asheville newspaper.
Last year the cider makers had to range beyond Henderson County because the 2012 spring freeze wiped out most of the crop. "This year should be a lot easier to find apples, and we are going to explore some organic options," one of the owners said.