387: American Cider Association CEO & CiderCon 2024

387: American Cider Association CEO & CiderCon 2024

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist November 15, 2023 Duration: 57:15

Catching up with Michelle McGrath CEO of the ACA

CiderCon 2024 takes place in Portland, Oregon, making it the perfect time to chat with the American Cider Association's CEO Michelle McGrath. The Northwest Cider Association is also involved helping with the cider tours on Monday and Tuesday and Oregon Cider Week!

Ep 387 Cider Chat Michelle McGrath

  • Who is Michelle McGrath? Why did your job title change from Ex Dir to CEO? The latter, is a typical of a for-profit organization title. Was this new title part of signifying a greater change for the ACA moving forward?
  • What are the key services that the American Cider Association is providing to its membership?
  • Who can join the American Cider Association?
  • CEO Michelle's must attend (do not miss) recommendation for CiderCon 2024

CiderCon 2024

  • What is CiderCon? How do the host cities get chosen?
  • This year it returns to Portland Oregon, for the first time since 2016. What can attendees expect with this site (physical overview) what is different from the downtown location in 2016.
  • Planning Tips for getting the most out of CiderCon (or why should a business send themselves or their staff).
  • Pre conference cider tours: Why arrive early and sign up for a cider tour?
  • First Timers, Networking & Traveling alone to CiderCon – "how to stay in the loop"

Learning Tracks at CiderCon

  • Doing Business Better
  • Making Amazing Cider
  • Selling More Cider
  • Growing bountiful Apples
  • Exploring Cider's Flavor & Terroir

International Guest at CiderCon

  • There are a number of speakers from Sweden and Norway attending CiderCon 2024. Is this in keeping with highlighting a specific country or region as in past? Will there be any specific tasting sessions from the Nordic countries?
  • CiderCon has become the largest conference in the world for the cider industry and this year it appears to spotlight more international speakers than ever before, from both Scandinavia and the UK. How do you recommend members or attendees who are focused on their US market to interpret the state of cider in America, if the pool of speakers is dominated by international guests.
  • Is there a final closing toast that attendees can participate in, the Friday before heading home?

Contact info for American Cider Association and CEO


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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