Hard Core

North America was home to apples long before Europeans - or cider - reached its shores. Malus fusca, or the Pacific crabapple, is native to the continent and there’s a rich history and contemporary culture surrounding the variety to explore. We’ll look at how the apple has been and is still used by Indigenous nations and poke holes in the narratives about cider we’re all too familiar with. We follow apple seeds and stocks across the continent and through time, visiting a vault, getting to know Midwestern cideries, and embracing the eclectic flavors (and stories) behind American cider.

Hard Core is back! The first season of Hard Core came out before the pandemic. While we’re still drinking cider, the world is a very different place. That’s why we’re returning with season two. We can’t wait to travel through history and across the US with you. In this episode, we’ll start our journey at the root. Before labeling, bottling, and fermentation, all cider starts out on the tree. We can’t talk about farming in the US without talking about land access. According to a 2017 report from the USDA, of over 3 million farms assessed, 95 percent of farm producers in this country are white and 65 percent of all farmers identify as male. The lack of representation in farming results in the same deficit in the world of cider making. In the season two premier, we’re going to learn about some individuals and organizations who are working to rebalance, repair, and regrow.

For our season finale we’re focusing our attention on what the future holds for cider. We’ll dive into co-ferments, collaborations, and cider culture abroad. We’ll also look to adjacent industries as a model for craft cider and explore how the cider industry can empower its community as it grows. Considering input from leaders across this industry, we’ll return to the agricultural roots of this craft beverage and conclude with what makes cider unique.

In this episode we visited our favorite bars, wine shops, and cider festivals to explore the many ways the industry is reaching out to curious drinkers. We spoke with retailers that are expanding their cider selection, looking closely at the language we use to talk about cider, and examined the front and back of labels to understand what’s inside the bottle. Plus we’ll talk tasting notes, industry tips on branding, and other storytelling techniques the cider industry is using to overcome barriers to entry in the craft beverage market.

This week on Hard Core, trek through orchards with us to deepen your knowledge of the impact that farming practices, tourism, policy, and collaboration can have on farms and cidermakers. From foraging for abandoned apples and to explore how growers work with their trees, we’re looking a many methods of farming. The holiday season is all about food and community. There’s no better time to show your support for food radio by becoming a member! Lend your voice and help HRN continue to spreading the message of equitable, sustainable, and delicious food – together, we can change minds and build a better food system. Go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate today to become a crucial part of the HRN community.

In this episode, we’re looking at the science behind cider making and apple growing. We start with a chemistry lesson on fermentation and assess how microscopic organisms affect cider’s taste. Then we pay a visit to Cornell University to explore the cutting edge of horticulture, where scientists seeking to increase yield and combat climate change are assembling the building blocks to breed the apple of the future.

In this episode, you will be transported to the Finger Lakes region of New York State to hear from many of the makers leading America’s cider revival. We’ll try to answer the question: Can you taste place? By diving deep into the meaning of terroir, we will work to pinpoint what makes the tastiest apple and how the cider industry can use regionality to its advantage.

Cider has been a part of American history since the first colonists hit our shores. But while apples took root on this newly claimed continent, so did the slave trade. We’ll break down common narratives about the founding fathers’ disposition for cider and talk about some of the ways cider makers today are engaging with the past. Plus, we’ll talk prohibition and explore the emergence of a new generation of cider drinkers.

Hard Core is a new series from Heritage Radio Network taking a close look at the rebirth of American cider! Over the course of six episodes we’ll break through folksy stereotypes to gain a deeper understanding of where the cider industry began and where it’s headed. Hear from orchardists, cider makers, policy experts and academics to learn about everything from the science of fermentation, to the magic of terroir, and the challenges of breaking into the beverage market.