Key Takeaways
- A cider mill focuses on producing apple cider and often showcases the cider-making process.
- An apple orchard primarily grows apples and may offer seasonal picking and farm activities as well.
- Many farms combine both, but each serves a distinct purpose in the apple-growing and cider-making cycle.
- Both boast unique experiences, such as hands-on harvesting and education about the fresh cider making process.
The apple forms the cornerstone of many fall traditions, from picking them at your local orchard to baking homemade pies. You may wonder, though: what’s the difference between a cider mill and an apple orchard? The two certainly have their similarities, but there are some key differences as well. Those differences lie mainly in how the apples are grown, harvested, and made into cider.
Apple Orchard: Defined
An orchard is a farm that’s dedicated to growing apple trees, and it’s where apples begin their journey. They start out as blossoms in spring and transform into tasty, beautiful, ripe fruit in fall. Many orchards, like Robinette’s, offer a U-pick experience, where people can walk through the orchard and pluck their own apples right off the tree.
At an orchard, you’ll likely also get to hitch a ride on a hayride, navigate a corn maze, pet some goats in the petting zoo, buy fresh baked goods, and host seasonal events. Many even offer wine tastings to sample local fruit wines.
However, the primary purpose of an apple orchard is to cultivate apples.
Cider Mill: Defined
A cider mill is where apples sourced from orchards are cleaned, prepared, and pressed into apple cider. Some orchards double as a cider mill, and vice versa. Some mills press only during the fall, while others freeze or store cider to make it available year-round.
Many times, visitors can take a tour and observe the pressing process for a behind-the-scenes look at how apples become cider. While methods vary by cider mill, the process is basically the same: the juice from the apples is extracted, with a focus on balancing sweetness, tartness, and freshness. Fresh cider can also be used as the base for hard cider, fruit wines, or baked goods.
Orchards and Ciders Mills Working Hand in Hand
While orchards and cider mills have their differences, many farms combine both operations into one. This offers the ultimate in a full-circle experience: visitors can walk the orchard and pick apples, then visit the cider mill on the same premises to watch how those harvested apples are turned into cider. It’s a win/win!
