WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:

“Why are cider mills so popular in Michigan?”

The short answer

Michigan’s cider mills are more than places to grab fresh cider and doughnuts; they’re steeped in tradition. Over 125 licensed mills dot the state, offering Michiganders and tourists alike an autumn ritual that connects them to the local land and community. And while cider mill season is all about that first crisp sip, there’s more at play here: each mill blends its own unique apple varieties, adding seasonal layers to each batch of cider.

But you’re probably wondering: Which Michigan cider mill is the best? Well, it depends who you ask – most locals have a favorite they swear by.

The essence of Michigan’s cider mills

Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, emphasizes the cultural significance of cider mills:

“It’s part of the heritage,” said Smith. “Being in Michigan and having that experience in the fall of going to a cider mill, getting your apples and doughnuts, it’s something people look forward to every year.”

These mills are more than seasonal attractions; they are integral to Michigan’s agritourism, providing families with opportunities to connect with local farmers and understand the origins of their food.

Crafting the perfect cider

Operating a cider mill involves meticulous processes to ensure quality and safety. Each mill must adhere to stringent licensing regulations, including food safety training.

A key aspect of cider production is blending various apple varieties to achieve a unique flavor profile that evolves throughout the season. Smith notes that the taste of cider can change dramatically from early September to late autumn, reflecting the diversity of Michigan’s apple harvest.

Read more: Apple growers wallop averages for the third year in a row

Michigan’s apple varieties: A bounty for cider-making

Michigan’s climate and soil conditions are ideal for apple cultivation, producing popular varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Ambrosia. These apples contribute to the distinctive flavors found in Michigan’s ciders.

The state’s apple industry is a significant economic driver, with apples being Michigan’s most valuable fruit crop. This industry supports not only growers but also packaging and allied sectors, underscoring its importance to the state’s agricultural economy.

A tradition that resonates

For many Michiganders, visiting a cider mill is a cherished fall activity, offering a blend of tradition, community, and the simple pleasures of the season. The state’s cider mills provide a unique experience that combines the enjoyment of fresh cider and doughnuts with a connection to Michigan’s agricultural roots. 

About the listener

This month’s question came from WDET listener Adam Danis. Danis is a Chicago native who currently lives in Midtown Detroit. After spending time in the mitten state, his curiosity grew about Michigander’s love for cider mills all across the state.

More from CuriosiD:

• Is the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library haunted?
• Behind the Scenes: Celebrating 10 years of CuriosiD
• What is the history behind the Belle Isle Boathouse?

Michigan growers are on track for a big apple harvest this year for the third year in a row. But tons of apples aren’t always a good thing.

Advances in horticulture research and technology have helped produce mind-boggling amounts of apples year after year.

Last year saw record-breaking apple harvests across the country, according to the U.S. Apple Association.

In Michigan, the banner year drove down prices of certain varieties and created backlogs at packing facilities.

Emma Grant, orchard manager at Cherry Bay Orchards in Suttons Bay, is hoping to get ahead of some of those issues this season.

“We’ve never used this before,” she says, opening up a pail of thick white liquid. “But as there’s more apples in Michigan and the packers are running into longer times to pack, this is something we thought we should try.”

Related: Michigan should have plenty of apples this fall

The liquid is a plant growth regulator; she and her colleagues will mix the concentrate with water, then spray it on a small block of Premier Honeycrisp apple trees as a test.

“Right now, we are spraying this in hopes that we can delay the maturity of the Premier Honeycrisp [apples],” Grant said. “They can get redder on the tree, and then by the time we get through our other apples and pick them, they’re still at a ripeness level that’s ideal for storage.”

The hope is to get these early season apples as red as possible without the fruit over-ripening. That’ll give them a better chance of being picked, stored, packed and eventually sold to consumers.

Why so many apples?

This year’s crop is expected to be big, but lower than last year. Still, researchers say it’s unusual to have three big years in a row like this.

There are a few reasons why.

Researchers in northwest Michigan say growers have benefited from good weather the past few years.

But other top apple states, like Washington and New York, are also pulling big yields.

Chris Gerlach says that’s partially because we’ve planted a lot more apple trees across the country.

“We’ve added about 30, 35,000 apple acres over the last five years,” said Gerlach, who tracks analytics for the U.S. Apple Association, a trade association for the apple industry.

But there’s more to it than that: The way we grow apples has changed.

“You wouldn’t be putting in your grandfather’s apple tree,” Gerlach said. “You wouldn’t be putting in 400 trees per acre that have a huge canopy, that take you a lot of time and effort to get into the tree to prune or to harvest.”

Most growers are transitioning to high density systems. These trellised trees almost look like walls of fruit.

They grow more apples in less space, and they’re much easier to harvest – which needs to be done by hand for apples that are sold fresh. Plus, that fruit is higher quality than ever before, Gerlach said.

So this mind-boggling amount of apples?

“This, indeed, does appear to be the new normal,” he said.

But that new normal isn’t without wrinkles — more apples means lower prices.

Gerlach says some growers lost money because 2023’s record-breaking harvest drove the values of certain varieties so low.

“So, typically, at the end of the season, these apple growers will get a check in the mail. This year, lots of growers were getting bills in the mail because the value of their apples was less than the cost of services.”

-Chris Gerlach, U.S. Apple Association

Alongside high labor costs and other inputs like fuel, growers also have to pay for storing their apples, packing them and subsidize commission for industry salespeople.

“So typically, at the end of the season, these apple growers will take the prices their apples were sold for, minus these costs of services, and they’ll get a check in the mail,” Gerlach said. “Well, this year, lots of growers were getting bills in the mail because the value of their apples was less than the cost of services.”

That’s not sustainable, especially for small- to medium-sized growers — which account for many of northern Michigan’s orchards.

Gerlach said U.S. apple growers are consolidating and seeing more investment from private equity and foreign sovereign wealth funds. He said that trend will only continue as labor costs go up and it becomes more difficult to make money on fruit alone.

Plus, to top it off, he said U.S. consumers are buying fewer apples at the grocery store.

“There’s a lot of competition in the produce aisle these days with grapes, and clementines, and avocados, and other things,” he said. “Some people are talking about what we need to be doing to promote apples as a category, and not just Honeycrisp versus Red Delicious, but apples versus something else.”

Despite that, Gerlach said growers should get a little relief this growing season. It’s shaping up to be a big apple year, but still far fewer apples than last year.

Back at the farm

In Suttons Bay, the plant growth regulator Emma Grant sprayed over a month ago worked as intended: It bought a little more time for some of the apples to turn redder without over-maturing. And the redder the apple, the more appealing it is to packers.

Now, she says she’ll have to wait and see if the same regulator will help the apples keep better in storage before being packed and sold.

It could be close to the start of next apple season by the time that happens.

It’s apple season in Michigan, and farmers across the state are ready for another good harvest.

The Michigan Apple Committee says growers expect to produce about 30.5 million bushels this year. This would be the third straight year that the apple crop has been above average.

Apples are early this year

Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, says this year’s crop is ahead of schedule.

“I don’t remember us ever really being 10 days early like this,” she said. “I think they’re starting on galas, which is unheard of. We usually start on galas after Labor Day.”

Smith says warmer than normal temperatures in late winter and early spring caused apple trees to bud earlier than usual. But that should not hurt the quality of the fruit.

“We should have some really good sugar content in the apples this year,” she said. “We had some really good warm days, and we’ve had some really cool nights, which lends to that flavor profile that you expect out of Michigan.

Smith says this year’s apples should also be larger than usual due to the early growth.

Apples are big business in Michigan

Michigan has almost 15 million apple trees and more than 700 family-run apple farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Smith says the state grows about a dozen kinds of apples commercially.

“We have, of course, the galas and honeycrisp,” she said. “But we also have some newer varieties that people might not know about, like ambrosia and evercrisp.”

Michigan is the second or third largest apple producing state, depending on the year.

“We kind of flip back and forth with New York state,” she said. Washington produces the most apples in the country.

Smith says consumers can buy Michigan apples at about 200 farm markets and cider mills across the state, and more than 12,000 retail groceries nationwide.