Commercial apple growing in Sonoma County goes back to the early 1900's. The industry hit a high point in 1940 with about 14,000 acres in production. Prices were good enough back then to support 25 packing sheds that featured the first fresh apples of the season (Gravenstein), and 4 large processors that were making sauce, juice, and dried fruit for sale all over the USA.  In the late 1970's fresh and processed apple prices began to slide leading to a gradual decline in Sonoma County's apple acreage. Last year (2014) we only had about 2,000 acres of apples left in production.  Several factors over the last 40 years have led to this decline. One is the strong competition from irrigated growing regions with high yielding orchards.  Another is the decreased demand for processed apple products. Then, of course we have the high cost of land in Sonoma County influenced by urbanization and the potential for growing some of the best wine grapes in the world.  Our much smaller apple industry today focuses on the production of organic specialty sauce and juice products and heirloom varieties of fresh market fruit where prices are still good. But now there is another new and interesting alternative:  growing apples for the production of ‘hard-cider'. 

Hard cider as an alcoholic beverage is not new, but over the last few years demand has skyrocketed to a $ 500 million US industry, which is growing rapidly. Most apple cider is viewed as a trendy alternative to beer; made from low-cost, fruit juice from culls, or juice concentrate from the bulk juice market.  This product is and could be made almost anywhere, and it is quite price sensitive. The base product is often flavored with various other fruit juices, spices, or fresh apple juice to enhance the flavor. The big beer companies such as Boston Beer Co., Ahheuser-Busch, Miller, and others dominate this market with over 90% of the production and sales. Our largest local producer, by far, is Ace Cider with less than 0.5% of that market. 

There is another, much more interesting apple cider product, however, that is being produced locally - on a very small scale. It is made from heirloom apple varieties, or from specific cider varieties grown right here in Sonoma County.  It is essentially an alternative to wine. The exotic flavors of many heirloom varieties and especially the cider varieties offer the more sophisticated palate a food friendly, alternative beverage to accompany many of our gourmet foods.  Apple varieties can be separated into four different categories:

1. ‘Sweets' (Baldwin, McIntosh, Rome Beauty, Winter Banana)
2. ‘Bittersweets' (Jersey, Dabinett, Porter's Perfection, Newtown Pippin, Red Astrachan)
3. ‘Sharps' (Coleman's Seedling, York Imperial, Cox's Orange Pippin, Spitzenberg, Gravenestein, Jonathan, Winesap)
4. ‘Bittersharps' (Foxwelp, Kingston Black, Pearmain, Dolgo, Red Siberian, Transcendant).  Just like wine varieties, each apple variety offers its unique aromatic flavors, sweetness, tannins and acidity

While our local growers cannot compete with West Coast generic bulk apple juice prices of about $200 per ton for the fruit, they can compete with wine grapes. Cider and heirloom varieties last year were valued from $700 to $1,200 per ton – with a good dry-farmed orchard able to produce about 15-20 tons per acre and double that with full irrigation.  Pest control and fruit thinning production costs are also lower for apples grown to crush into juice and ferment into cider, because fruit cosmetics and size are of less concern. Cider apples can also be mechanically harvested - further reducing production costs.   

Let's hope this new apple cider industry takes off and lasts, we already have seven businesses producing apple cider in Sonoma County. It would be nice to see the diversity of Sonoma County's agriculture continue to include a vibrant apple industry.  

Visit Apples to learn more or contact Paul Vossen pmvossen@ucanr.edu  

Interested in farming or ranching on county owned land? Here's the scoop…

On March 10, 2015, UCCE and Sonoma County Ag Preservation and Open Space District presented the final 2 phases (farming and grazing properties) of “County Lands for Food Production Report” to the County Board of Supervisors, and it was approved unanimously.

Eighteen properties, owned by various county agencies (see below) were assessed. It's worth your time to read through this document to see what lands are out there and whether they may be suitable for you!

The Executive Summary of that report states: “The primary reason that few of the vacant lands owned by County departments are suitable for farming or grazing is that most of the appropriate County properties already support such uses. Over 4,500 acres owned by Regional Parks, SCAPOSD and General Services are currently leased to local farmers and ranchers and are an important part of Sonoma County's local food system. Almost all of these properties had water and fencing existing when County departments purchased them. In one case, the SCAPOSD paid to have a water well drilled, and several other cases the land is leased to an adjacent farmer or rancher who provides water from his or her own property.

As outlined in the Assessment of County Land for Food Production Report, Phase 2, it's recommended that, when possible, future County land acquisitions have the necessary infrastructure and other attributes compatible with agricultural uses. These include considering the following features: water, fencing, access, power, minimal parcel size for agriculture, and biotic issues.”

Each property in the report lists the county department that owns the land, so if you want more information, you must contact them directly.

County Lands for Food Production Report

Contacts are:

• Sonoma County Regional Parks: Bert Whitaker, Park Manager; Bert.Whitaker@sonoma-county.org ; 565-2041
• Sonoma County Water Agency: Mike Thompson; Michael.Thompson@scwa.ca.gov; 526-5370
• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District: Kathleen Marsh; Kathleen.Marsh@sonoma-county.org; 565-7360
• Sonoma County General Services: Ed Buonaccorsi - Ed.Buonaccorsi@sonoma-county.org; 565-2550

A key resource used by all Master Gardeners around the State of California has been updated and is available for anyone to purchase.  The 2nd Edition of the University of California Master Gardener Handbook has recently been released.  Whether you're a beginning home gardener and an experienced hand in your garden, this handbook is an excellent resource providing the practical, science-based information you need to sustainably maintain your landscape and garden and become an effective problem solver. 

Topics included in the Handbook cover a wide range such as soil, fertilizer, water management, plant propagation, plant physiology, weeds & pests, home vegetable gardening and much, much more!  New to the 2nd Edition is information on invasive plants and principles of designing and maintaining landscapes for fire protection. 

There will be a book signing event at the Petaluma Seed Bank on Thursday April 30^th starting at 7:00PM.  In addition to it being available for purchase at the Petaluma Seed Bank, it can be ordered online in paperback, along with other excellent University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources reference books.

2014 Annual Report letter from Stephanie Larson, County Director and Livestock & Range Management Advisor:

As we move into the next 100 years of Cooperative Extension, we continue to value the public/ private partnerships that have been the foundation of our organization, raising the bar by supporting the County of Sonoma Initiatives on local agriculture and healthy communities. UCCE advisors are critical partners with local farmers and ranchers, providing scientific-based information on techniques that can be used to increase production and thus increase economic stability, while addressing environmental concerns.

Our programs focus on viticulture and integrated pest management, livestock and range management, specialty crops, sudden oak death, value added agriculture, beginning farmers and ranchers, Coho monitoring, agritourism and ecosystem services. Our Master Gardener coordinator trains volunteers to provide education and outreach to Sonoma County residents on water conservation, home food production and pesticide reduction. We also have one of the largest 4-H youth programs in California, focused on leadership, science and technology, with a commitment to reach as many young minds as possible. Our 4-H staff is spearheading a major outreach campaign focused on increasing Latino enrollment and participation. The results are that more Latino children have access to opportunities provided by the County of Sonoma.

This past year, UCCE conducted research and provided educational programs to help commercial row crop farmers and livestock producers in Sonoma County deal with drought and climate change. Our frost tower research in vineyards evaluated methods for making the most of local water resources through increased irrigation efficiency. Water conservation programs are also focused on the urban gardener, partnering with the Sonoma County Water Agency to educate the public on how to use less water; and with the Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to develop an evaluation tool for documenting ecosystem services that have been maintained or increased through implementing conservation easements and proper rangeland management.

We partnered with other county departments to increase access to healthy, local, sustainable food. One outcome was the County Land for Food Production (CLFP) project; which allowed UCCE to work on creating an incubator farm on county land. These efforts are aimed at increasing access to land for food production, and the number of farmers and ranchers growing local food, respectively. The goals align with the Sonoma County Healthy and Sustainable Food Action Plan. Our Agricultural Ombudsman played a critical role in assisting individuals who want to create or expand their farming and ranching enterprises, and is currently working with PRMD to address local poultry processing.

Learn about these programs and more in our 2014 Annual Report.