What is the Citizen's Cider Project?
Our Citizen’s Cider Project turns previously neglected apples from local backyards, roadsides, fencerows, and abandoned fields into cider. Locals pick the apples and we buy them. We then press the apples to make a truly local, community cider.
Will we be doing the project again in 2023?
Yes - we wouldn't miss it! Apple drop-offs will start September 15, 2023. Please follow the picking instructions below or we cannot accept the apples. This is to ensure we have a high quality cider.


News: Best in Class Award
We were thrilled that Citizens Cider won a Best in Class award in the Heritage Dry category at the 2022 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition, which is the world's largest cider-judging. Thank you so much to the apple-picking locals of Uxbridge and beyond! The quality, diversity, and varieties of apples you picked had everything to do with this win. The award-winning Citizens Cider was from apples picked and pressed in 2020.
How Does it Work?
Bring your unsprayed apples to us and we will pay you $10 for a full bushel or approximately $0.25 per pound. You can bring apples in any container and we will measure it for you.
When and Where Can We Drop Apples Off?
Drop your apples off at the cidery: 614 Sandford Rd, Uxbridge anytime we are open (see hours). Sorry, but we don't accept apples outside of our regular hours.


Apple-Picking Do's and Dont's
If the apples don't meet these criteria, we cannot accept them.
The DON’T’s
-
No rot, please! Rot can spoil the cider. If you're not sure, break an apple open to check for brown inside.
-
No apples with dirt or mud on them. Apples that are muddy from being on the ground are not fit for cider.
-
No sprayed apples, please.
-
Grounders are ok if you pick them the same day they fall and if they don't have rot or dirt.
-
No unripe apples. Ripe apples have brown seeds.
-
No apples with broken skin.
The DO’s
-
Apples can be slightly imperfect: blemishes, apple scab, nicks, small bruises are all okay.
-
All apple varieties are welcome. Heritage varieties and crab apples are our favourites. Pears and quince are good as along as they are quite firm and not overly ripe.
-
You can pick over several days as the tree ripens and store them away from sun, rain and critters.