Agenda

To distribute or not to distribute?

1:00 - 2:00 pm     Ballroom C

• Laura Cherry  Dragon's Head Cider
• Aaron Sarnoff-Wood 2 Towns Ciderhouse

So, you're ready to take the next step in growing your business and you’re interested in working with a distributor to expand your footprint. Perhaps you've been working with a distributor for a while and are looking to increase performance? Maybe you're looking for ways to better integrate your sales force within an existing network of distributors? Join in a conversation on selling cider and come with your questions, we're here to help!

Cultivating the Cider Experience

2:30 - 3:30 pm     Ballroom C

• Missy Dobernigg  The BX Press
• Jennie Dorsey Schilling Cider 
• Crystie Kisler  Finnriver Farm & Cidery
• Brighid O’Keane (moderator) Cider Institute of North America

We all have the opportunity to create connections and experiences through our cider businesses. In this session, you will hear from three different perspectives on how to engage with your customers in multiple mediums to connect them to your unique story. Hiring and training staff, developing a tasting room and clubs, educating consumers, and storytelling through your land and products are all on-site retail strategies to cultivate a cider experience. Join us to hear different perspectives and share your own ideas.

Social Media Strategy

4:00 - 5:00 pm     Ballroom C

• Caitlin Braam Caitlin Braam Creative
• Julia Christman, Verde Agency 

Customers are now using social media more than any other source to discover new products, travel destinations, tasting rooms and more. But how to use social media effectively remains elusive, especially for small business owners with even smaller resources and under pressure to look authentic — all while justifying the time commitment and expenditure.This seminar will cover creative strategies to attract new customers using social media and topics such as budgeting, content creation, engagement, and tips and tricks for different platforms. We’ll also discuss “what’s new” and “what’s next” while addressing some of the common challenges and restrictions.

Benefits of Aging Cider: Plastic, Stainless, Wood and Time

1:00 - 2:00 pm     Ballroom D

• Nancy Bishop Alpenfire Cider 
• Tim Larsen  Snowdrift Cider Co. 
• Dave Takush 2 Towns Ciderhouse 
• Brighid O’Keane (moderator), Cider Institute of North America

We’ll discuss why a producer might want to age a cider, what happens to a cider when it is aging, and what makes a cider even appropriate for aging in the first place. We’ll talk about the types of aging vessels (wood, stainless, plastic), malolactic fermentation, and consumer acceptance of wood aged cider.

Final Packaging for Stability

2:30 - 3:30 pm     Ballroom D

• Andy Diacetis  Enartis
• Nick Gunn  BenchGraft Cider Consulting
• Scott Katsma Seattle Cider Company

Let’s talk about how to manage stability for quality and shelf life. We’ll think about considerations for ensuring your beautiful liquid reaches the mouths of your consumers as intended.

Managing Fermentation: How to make it smell good

4:00 - 5:00 pm     Ballroom D

• Andrew Byers Finnriver Farm & Cidery
• Rick Hastings  Liberty Ciderworks
• Christine Walter  Bauman's Cider 

Stinky stinky boo-boo. Recognize your faults and don’t share them with your customers. A panel discussion about making delightful tantalizing and properly smelling cider.

Cider Orchard Management & Growing for Polyphenols

1:00 - 2:00 pm     Meeting Room 315

• Travis Alexander  WSU Mount Vernon NWREC Cider Program
• Marcus Robert Tieton Ciderworks
• Darlene Hayes (moderator) allintocider.com

Orchard Design and Strategy

2:30 - 3:30 pm     Meeting Room 315

• Nik Wiman Oregon State University
• Wes Cherry Dragon's Head Cidery
• Peter Ringsrud Snowdrift Cidery

Economics: Growing, Sourcing and Selling Apples for Cider

4:00 - 5:00 pm     Meeting Room 315

• Suzette Galinato  Washington State University
• Jim Koenig  Rootwood Cider
• Marcus Robert  Tieton Ciderworks
• Darlene Hayes (moderator) allintocider.com