At its core, West Michigan’s hard cider is a-peel-ing and the industry is fruitful

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published May 16, 2018 at 4:29 PM EDT

A canning line for cider made at Vander Mills LLC

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Vander Heide said Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the country, and the local produce gives the cider a "sweet and bright and crisp and acidic" taste.

Courtesy of Paul Vander Heide

2 of 3

Vander Heide said Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the country, and the local produce gives the cider a "sweet and bright and crisp and acidic" taste.

Courtesy of Paul Vander Heide

The storage unit for cans of apple cider from Vander Mill LLC

3 of 3

Vander Heide said Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the country, and the local produce gives the cider a "sweet and bright and crisp and acidic" taste.

Courtesy of Paul Vander Heide

If you just focus on the craft brews and the wines made in Michigan, then you're missing a growing part of the Michigan beverage scene – cider.

Cider Week GR is happening now to May 19 in Grand Rapids. The city is also hosting the annual Great Lakes Cider and Perry Competition – the largest competition of its kind in the world, says Paul Vander Heide.

Vander Heide is the owner of Vander Mill LLC of Grand Rapids, which makes more than 250,000 gallons of cider a year to sell in a number of Great Lakes states. Vander Heide is also president of the United States Association of Cider Makers, and he joined Stateside to tell us about the business.

Listen above to learn about the history of cider drinking in the United States, what's brought about the resurgence of cider's popularity, and why West Michigan is such a hot spot in the industry.

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