May 31, 2019 – Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing in the future of Ontario’s craft cider production as Craft Cider Month celebrations begin.

Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the federal and provincial governments are providing support for technology solutions that will help cideries to expand markets and increase their productivity. Investments include:

$130,175 for Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery to purchase and install an advanced glycol chilling and piping system for cider production to help reduce energy usage costs by 50 per cent, and a new wetland biofilter wastewater treatment system to help reduce disposal costs and eliminate wastewater.

$70,661 for Fielding Estate Winery to purchase a new robotic press to establish three new product lines, which will help to increase capacity when processing apples for cider.

More than 200 apple growers across the province produce a variety of apples, including those used in the production of cider. Ontario’s craft cider industry contributes $12.7 million to the provincial GDP.

There are now approximately 70 businesses that produce cider in Ontario. Food and beverage manufacturing businesses, including cideries, employed 96,370 people across the province in 2017.

The Ontario government is committed to supporting Ontario’s beverage alcohol sector, including the fast-growing craft distillery and cider industries, improving customer convenience and choice, and creating more retail sales opportunities for businesses.