Portland Cider Co. to make a community cider from area residents’ unwanted apples

Portland Cider Co. is calling on neighbors in the Portland Metropolitan area to collect and donate their fallen and unwanted summer apples for the cidery’s third annual PDX Apple Recycling. In exchange for each bushel, donors will receive one voucher for a pint of cider redeemable at either of Portland Cider Co.’s two taprooms, the opportunity to hand press apples into cider at a pressing party on September 29 and good karma from Mother Earth. As someone who just shamefully threw away a full bag of unopened, month-old kale and is likely to do the same with that well-intentioned bundle of peaches I purchased, I dig this concept.

Portland Cider Co. will be collecting a minimum donation of one bushel (40 lbs) of edible quality apples daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. now through October 31 at the company’s Clackamas Taproom and Cidery. All varietals are welcome, but extra swag will be given for crabapples, bitter sharps, bittersweets and bitters.

The collected apples will be pressed into a community cider to support Oregon Wild, a nonprofit conservation organization that works to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for all Oregonians.

“This is our third year doing the PDX Apple Recycling collection, and we’ve been overwhelmed with the support of the Portland Metro community over the last two years,” explained Lynda Parrish, co-owner of Portland Cider Co. “This cider really is a byproduct of our community, to benefit and support the wildlife and lands of our community. It brings everything full circle, and we love being able to spearhead this fundraiser every year.”

The finished community cider, appropriately named “Oregon Wild,” will be released in December at Portland Cider Co.’s annual Wassail Party. One hundred percent of the net proceeds of that cider’s sales will be donated to Oregon Wild’s Oregon Brewshed Alliance, an outreach initiative made up of a coalition of brewers and cider makers that work to protect the public and wildlands in the Northwest.