Publications | Cornell Hard Cider Resources

General Information

Miles, C.A., T.R. Alexander, G. Peck, S.P. Galinato, C. Gottschalk, and S. van Nocker. 2020. Growing apples for hard cider production in the U.S. – trends and research opportunities. HortTechnology 30(2):148-155.
Peck, G., C. Miles, J. King, T. Bradshaw, N. Rothwell, and I. Merwin. 2014. An introduction to hard cider in the U.S. eXtension.
Peck, G. and C. Miles. 2015. Assessing the production scale and research and extension needs of U.S. hard cider producers. Journal of Extension. 53(5): Article 5FEA10.
Merwin, I.A., S. Valois, and O.I. Padilla-Zakour. 2008. Cider apple and cider-making techniques in Europe and North America. Horticultural Reviews. 34:365-415.
Downing, D.L. 1979. Hard cider workshop April 18-19 1979. Special Report. NYS Agr. Exp. Stn. 32.

Cider Apple Cultivar Evaluations

Peck, G., Zakalik, D., Brown, M., 2021. Hard cider apple cultivars for New York. Fruit Quarterly 29, 30–35.
Thompson-Witrick, K.A., K.M. Goodrich, A.P. Neilson, E.K. Hurley, G.M. Peck, and A.S. Stewart. 2014. Characterization of the polyphenol composition of 20 cultivars of cider, processing, and dessert apples (Malus X domestica) grown in Virginia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 62:10181-10191.
Rosenberger, D.A., F.W. Meyer, R.C. Christiana, and A.L. Rugh. 2008. Disease susceptibility of 11 hard-cider apple cultivars in southeastern New York, 2006-2007. Plant Disease Management Reports 2:PF030. <pdf>
Valois, S., I.A. Merwin, and O.I. Padilla-Zakour. 2006. Characterization of fermented cider apple cultivars grown in Upstate New York. Journal of the American Pomological Society. 60(3):113-128.

Orchard Production

Zakalik DL, Brown MG, Peck GM. 2024. Fruitlet Thinning Reduces Biennial Bearing in Seven High-tannin Cider Apple Cultivars. HortScience. 59(1):26–35.
Zakalik DL, Brown MG, Kahlke CJ, Peck GM. 2023a. Summer Applications of Plant Growth Regulators, Ethephon And 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid, Do Not Promote Return Bloom or Reduce Biennial Bearing in Seven High-Tannin Cider Apple Cultivars. Journal of the American Pomological Society. 77(2):75–92.
Zakalik DL, Brown MG, Peck GM. 2023b. Fruitlet Thinning Improves Juice Quality in Seven High-tannin Cider Cultivars. HortScience. 58(10):1119–1128.
Karl, A. and G.M. Peck. 2022. Greater sunlight exposure during early fruit development increases polyphenol concentration, soluble solid concentration, and fruit mass of cider apples. Horticulturae. 8(11):993
Karl, A.D., D.L. Zakalik, B.S. Cook, S.K., and G.M. Peck. 2022. The biochemical and physiological basis for hard cider apple fruit quality. Plants, People, Planet: Fruits in Focus (special issue). Open access.
Karl, A., W. Knickerbocker, and G.M. Peck. 2022. Mechanically harvesting hard cider apples is more economically favorable than hand harvesting, regardless of farm scale. HortTechnology. 32(4):359-368.
Karl, A.D., M.G. Brown, S. Ma, A. Sandbrook, A.C. Stewart, L. Cheng, A.K. Mansfield, and G.M. Peck. 2020. Foliar urea applications increase yeast assimilable nitrogen concentration and alcoholic fermentation rate in ‘Red Spy’ apples used for cider production. HortScience 55(8):1356–1364.
Karl, A.D., M.G. Brown, S. Ma, A. Sandbrook, A.C. Stewart, L. Cheng, A.K. Mansfield, and G.M. Peck. 2020. Soil nitrogen fertilization increases yeast assimilable nitrogen concentrations in ‘Golden Russet’ and ‘Medaille d’Or’ apples used for cider production. HortScience 55(8):1345-1355.
Ewing, B.L., G.M. Peck, S. Ma, A.P. Neilson, and A.C. Stewart. 2019. Management of apple maturity and post-harvest storage conditions to increase flavanols in cider. HortScience 54(1):143-148.
Peck, G.M. and W. Knickerbocker. 2018. Economic case studies of cider apple orchards in New York State. Fruit Quarterly 26(3):5-10.
Peck, G. M. McGuire, T. Boudreaux IV, and A. Stewart. 2016. Crop Load Density Affects ‘York’ Apple Juice and Hard Cider Quality. HortScience 51(9):1098-1102.
Peck, G., M. Bateman, T. Chao, C. Miles, and I. Merwin. 2016. Importing European Cider Cultivars into the U.S. Poster presented at CiderCon 2016. Portland, OR.
Miles, C., J. King, and G. Peck. 2015. Commonly Grown Cider Apple Cultivars in the U.S. WSU Cider Report 202. WSU NWREC, Mt. Vernon, WA. 2 pp.
Merwin, I.A. 2015. Growing apples for craft ciders. New York Fruit Quarterly 23(1):5-9.
Rosenberger, D. 2015. Top-working could speed production of cider apples. Blog post. Tree Fruit Diseases.

Cider Production

Song, Y.L., Gibney, P., Cheng, L., Shuwen, and G. Peck. 2020. Yeast assimilable nitrogen concentrations influences yeast gene expression and hydrogen sulfide production during cider fermentation. Frontiers in Microbiology 11(1264).
Ma, S., A.P. Neilson, J. Lahne, G.M. Peck, S.F. O’Keefe, E.K. Hurley, A. Sandbook, and A.C. Stewart. 2018. Juice clarification with pectinase reduces yeast assimilable nitrogen in apple juice without affecting the polyphenol composition in cider. Journal of Food Science. 8(11):2772-2781.
Ma, S., A.P. Neilson, J. Lahne, G.M. Peck, S.F. O’Keefe, and A.C. Stewart. 2018. Free amino acid composition of apple juices with potential for cider making as determined by UPLC-PDA. Journal of the Institute of Brewing.
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Boudreau IV, T.F., G.M. Peck, S.F. O’Keefe, and A.C. Stewart. 2017. Free Amino Nitrogen Concentration Correlates to Total Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen Concentration in Apple Juice. Food Science and Nutrition. 6:119-123.
Boudreau IV, T.F., G.M. Peck, S. Ma, N. Patrick, S. Duncan, S.F. O’Keefe, and A.C. Stewart. 2017. Hydrogen sulphide production during cider fermentation is moderated by pre-fermentation methionine addition. Journal of the Institute of Brewing.
Boudreau IV, T.F., G.M. Peck, S.F. O’Keefe, and A.C. Stewart. 2017. The interactive effect of fungicide residues and yeast assimilable nitrogen on fermentation kinetics and hydrogen sulfide production during cider fermentation. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 97(2): 693–704.
Gerling, C., O. Padilla-Zakour, A.K. Mansfield, D.C. Manns, C. McGregor, B. Rickard, and M. Sugrue. 2016. Fermentation optimization and consumer acceptance evaluation of New York apple varieties as a base for hard cider. NY Fruit Quarterly 24(1):20-23.
Gerling, C.J., M.E. Sugrue, C. McGregor, A.K. Mansfield, and O.I. Padilla-Zakour. 2016. Commercial Tannin Addition to Increase Polyphenolic Content of Ciders Made From Popular NY Apples. Poster presented at CiderCon 2016. Portland, OR.

Marketing and Economics

Zakalik, D. and G. Peck. 2023. High-Tannin Apple Supply and Demand in North America: Results from a 2021 Cider Industry Survey. Fruit Quarterly. 31(2):30–35.
Peck, G.M. and W. Knickerbocker. 2018. Economic Case Studies of Cider Apple Orchards in New York State. Fruit Quarterly 26(3):5-10.
Sugrue, M. and R. Dando. 2018. Cross‐modal influence of colour from product and packaging alters perceived flavour of cider. Journal of the Institute of Brewing. 124(3):254-260. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/jib.489
Pashow, L. 2018. Hard Cider Supply Chain Analysis. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest NY.
Galinato, S. and G. Peck. 2016. The Economics of Growing Cider Apples. Proceedings paper presented at CiderCON 2016. Portland, OR.
Farris, J.G., G.M. Peck, and G.E. Groover. 2013. Assessing the Economic Feasibility of Growing Specialized Apple Cultivars for Sale to Commercial Hard Cider Producers. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication AREC-46P, Blacksburg, VA. 15 pp.
Matson Consulting. 2012. Feasibility Study for a Small Farm Cidery in Nelson County, VA .

NYS Regulations

Solimeno, D.,Henesey, T. and C. Kennedy. 2018. Maker’s Guide to Cider Law: 2018 Guide to Licensing, Labeling, Excise Tax, and Direct Shipment for New York Cider Makers. Designed and prepared for the New York Cider Association by the Food and Beverage Law Clinic at Elisabeth Haub School of Law.
Complying with New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law- A Guide For Craft Manufacturers
NYS Special Provisions Related to Cider

Cider and Apple Associations
The United States is home to a rapidly growing number of cideries and New York is no exception! To help foster a larger sense of community among producers some cider associations have been established; visit their webpages to learn more about the many services and membership benefits they offer as a state or national cider association.

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cornell’s Tree Fruit Website– offers a plethora of information for best practices of growing apples including: production manuals, fact sheets, organic guides, and economic data.

Lake Ontario Fruit Team

Eastern NY Horticulture Fruit Extension

New York State Wine Analytical Laboratory

Cider Resources at Other Universities
Cornell often collaborates with other universities to develop a strong research support network for apple growers and cider producers alike. Explore what some of our partner institutes have for hard cider resources.