Unlock new tools to grow and streamline your cider business. This series of virtual workshops provides cideries and orchards technical assistance designed to improve business acumen and operational efficiency.
Join us online Tuesdays at 10 am or watch the recordings at your own pace.
FREE for NWCA Members · $50 for non-members
Welcome to Cider School
Running a successful orchard or cidery requires more than producing exceptional fruit and cider - it also means managing risk in an ever-changing agricultural landscape. Cider School is a first-of-its-kind educational program created specifically for orchardists and cider producers to help build stronger, more resilient businesses.
Developed by the Northwest Cider Association in partnership with industry experts, Cider School provides practical, real-world education on the topics producers identified as most critical to their success: production, financial, marketing, and human risk management. Through webinars, peer learning, one-on-one consulting, and hands-on workshops, participants will gain the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make informed business decisions, reduce risk, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of their operations.
Whether you're exploring crop insurance, improving your financial management, growing your direct-to-consumer sales, or building resilience for yourself and your team, Cider School offers practical guidance from trusted experts who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of the Pacific Northwest cider industry.
October 20
Financial Fundamentals: Building a More Profitable Cidery
What does it really take to build a profitable and financially resilient cider business? Irvine & Company CPAs will provide a practical refresher on financial fundamentals, including Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), margin calculation, and the financial metrics that matter most for business survival. Through sample business profiles and real-world strategies, participants will explore cost-saving opportunities and ways to make stronger financial decisions in today’s market.
After attending the webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for up to 4 hours of consulting with Irvine & Company.
Presenters:
Nick Shepherd, CPA - Partner, Irvine & Company
Karly Tell, CPA - Partner, Irvine & Company
November 3
Grow with Confidence: Insurance & Financial Services
Explore practical tools and resources to help protect your orchard and strengthen your business. AgWest Farm Credit will share information on crop insurance, educational resources, and agricultural lending options, with a special focus on the needs of young, beginning, and small producers. Learn what resources are available and how they can help you manage risk, access capital, and build a stronger operation.
Presenters:
George Harris, Livestock and Crop Insurance Agent, AgWest Farm Credit
Micah Kuenzi Crop Insurance Agent, AgWest Farm Credit
Kira Sabin, Relationship Manager, AgWest Farm Credit
December 1
A Can-Do Attitude: Making Stable Cider Without SO₂
SO₂ is a proven tool for cider stability, but it can present challenges in cans. This session explores vulnerable windows of cider production and offers practical alternatives for managing microbial spoilage and oxidation.
Presenters:
Gabe Cook, The Ciderologist
Nichola Hall, General Manager- Fermentation and Enology, Scott Laboratories
January 12
Turn Customer Insights into More Visits and Sales
What motivates consumers to visit, engage with, and spend money at farms and cideries? Join OSU Extension to explore new agritourism research on visitor preferences, decision-making, and how consumers want to hear from agricultural businesses. Discover practical ways to use your Google Business Profile, events, and other marketing tools to increase visibility, connect with customers, and give them compelling reasons to visit. Take away research-based strategies you can put to work right away.
Presenter: Audrey Comerford, OSU Extension Agritourism Program Coordinator
January 26
Finding Your Balance: Stress Awareness, Rural Resources, and Mindfulness Tools
Farming and running a cidery can be demanding, with stress affecting personal well-being and safety, communication, and business performance. Participants will identify their primary stressors, recognize early warning signs that impact workflow, and learn where to access rural health resources. The session also includes mindfulness practices designed to improve focus and reduce stress. By integrating awareness with skill‑building, this session provides producers with practical tools that may help prevent costly errors and improve operational performance.
Presenter:
Michelle Markesteyn, Professional Counselor Associate, Willamette Valley Behavioral Health
Attend or watch a virtual session to qualify for consulting on Financial Risk or Production Risk Management. Attendees who register for one of these sessions and complete a short survey (it's not a quiz, we promise!) will be sent instructions on how to sign up for one-on-one consulting with our experts.
Financial Risk - NWCA is heavily subsidizing one-on-one consulting services with Irvine & Co to provide you with practical financial and operational guidance. NWCA members receive up to 4 hours of consulting for $50. Cost for non-members is $100.
Production Risk - Review your insurance options with our partner AgWest at no cost to you.
Ready to go all in on managing risk in your cidery or orchard? Join with a small cohort of your colleagues to form a learning community from October 2026 - June 2027 and receive a complimentary registration to Northwest Cider Symposium and one night hotel stay.
You commit to:
- Register & complete pre survey for all virtual workshops
- Attend live or watch recordings for all virtual workshops (Oct - Jan)
- Complete the short post surveys for each virtual workshops
- Attend the NW Cider Symposium (March 16, 2027)
- Complete evaluation of NW Cider School to share what you have learned and implemented (May)
To join the learning community or learn more, please email emilybecker@nwcider.com.
Sign up for the entire workshop series: $0 for NWCA members, $50 for non-members
Financial consulting is available separately: $50 for NWCA members · $100 for non-members
