JACKSON, Wyo. — Got a hankering for locally made cider? Volunteers who lend a hand with Farmstead Cider collecting apples around town will receive half a case of cider in return, if over the age of 21. The harvest is already underway, with one volunteer day on Sept. 17. However, there is still another chance to join in.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to early afternoon, Farmstead Cider will lead harvesting efforts from apple trees around town, with permission from landowners. Those interested can sign up online.
The annual event has two main goals: to reduce human-grown animal attractants and to collect apples to press into cider. This year’s harvest event is a partnership with BearWise, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation and Teton Conservation District.
Over the years, Farmstead Cider has partnered with local conservation organizations to spread the word about its apple harvest program. The cidery leads the initiative by bringing volunteers to apple trees around town and collecting fallen apples. Volunteers over the age of 21 typically have walked away with a free supply of locally made apple cider.
Residents with apple trees in their yard can add the trees to Farmstead’s growing list of harvest stops, or pay $40 to add their tree to a reservation list of higher priority. If Farmstead does not make it to harvest the apples, it will refund the payment.
According to Farmstead Cider’s website, the business began when the founders received a grant to remove apples from local properties in an effort to reduce bear/human conflicts in certain areas. It was then that the high-altitude crab apples were discovered to be perfect for making cider.
According to Teton County Land Development Regulations (LDRs), nonnative fruit-bearing trees that have been grandfathered in must be “managed to prohibit large mammals from obtaining food rewards, and therefore, shall be either properly fenced and/or maintained with complete harvesting as soon as fruit is available.”
Farmstead Cider focuses on one type of crab apple for harvesting — non-persistent crab apples. According to the cidery’s website, these fruits fall freely from trees when they are ripe, typically prior to a frost, and they form fragrant piles of food for birds, bears and ungulates. It is prohibited to plant new trees of this kind, per the LDRs. However, the fruit is easier to harvest because it falls to the ground when ripe.
Persistent crab apples are smaller than non-persistent, and they don’t typically fall from the tree until December. They taste noticeably worse than their non-persistent cousins, which is another reason why Farmstead does not harvest them at this time.
