CiderCon 2025 Announces 'Sustainability' Keynote Line-Up

CiderCon®, the world’s largest professional cider conference - to be held in Chicago, Illinois from February 4-7, 2025 - unveiled a stellar lineup of speakers who will delve into the 2025 theme, “Cider’s Balanced Future: Planet, People, Profit.”

Speakers will cover topics on sustainability, ranging from agricultural practices to business practices, manufacturing, people management and beyond. 

“Sustainability is an important topic for cidermakers right now,” says ACA CEO Michelle McGrath. “We’re an agricultural product at heart, so we’re especially tied to the planet, the people and the small businesses developing this industry. We’ll be looking at how to nurture a collaborative industry that supports these pillars.”

Keynote speakers at the 15th annual CiderCon® in Chicago, include:

Lily Fan / NY Liquor Commission: NY Liquor Commissioner Lily Fan was nominated to lead the New York State Liquor Authority by Governor Kathy Hochul and is the first woman to head the agency. She is an engaging and heartfelt speaker that will share how she has effectively shaped the liquor authority’s approach to support small brands.

Scott Ramsey / New York Cider Association: Executive Director Scott Ramsey brings more than 30 years of corporate and non-profit marketing, communications, event production, and strategic leadership experience to his work in promoting, advocating, and building markets for New York Cider. He will join Lily Fan for a “fireside chat” on how to successfully use a liquor authority to support a sustainable craft cider industry

Debbie Morrison / Yellow Belly Cidery: Debbie and her husband Jim are the owners of Sapsucker Farms and Yellow Belly Cidery, a 179-acre regenerative farm in Quamba, Minnesota. They are well known for seamlessly integrating the natural environment in their operation, which includes growing vegetables, fruits, honey bees, maple syrup, chickens, and of course, an apple orchard. They are a regional community hub and will share how they incorporate prioritizing the planet, people and profit at their cidery.

In addition to these keynote speakers, CiderCon® is excited to continue its tradition of highlighting a guest cidermaking country. They are thrilled to welcome several speakers from Chile, a South American region rich with apples and history.

Featured guest cidermaking country - Chile: Each year, Chile produces millions of gallons of cider from forests of heirloom cider apples. Most of this cider is sold under the name “chicha” but a growing movement of new cidermakers are seeking to bring cider to the forefront of the Chilean beverage industry. The Chilean delegation will feature cidermakers, orchardists, educators, researchers, and government officials who are working to bring cider to local, national and international markets. Featured speakers include Harriet Nahrwold, co-founder of Quebrada de Chucao Cidery; Carlos Flores, orchardist and and co-founder of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider; Rene Galindo, founder and cidermaker of Sidrería Tencai; Gicella Saldiva, family farmer and orchardist who is also president of the Chilwe Cooperative, an organic farming and cidermaking cooperative from the island of Chiloe; Jose Antonio Alcalde, orchardist and professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and co-author of the first Chilean Cider Guide (Guía de la Sidra en Chile), 2022; Fabian Lara, Policy Coordinator for INDAP, the most important financial arm of the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for helping small-holder farmers and orchardists and a BJCP certified cider judge; and Eli Shanks, co-founder of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider. 

CiderCon® 2025 features experiences designed to give participants a new way to engage in Chicago while visiting. In addition, the conference will feature guided cider tastings, curated educational workshops, an interactive trade show and networking opportunities for all attendees. Attendees of CiderCon® include professional cidermakers large and small, cidery CEOs and employees, apple and pear growers, beer and wine journalists, cider enthusiasts, and beverage retailers and wholesalers. 

Additionally, Chicago Cider Week will once again coincide with CiderCon® 2025. The week will feature fantastic events and hospitality for cider friends visiting from far and wide, including the long-running Cider Summit Chicago that will take place at Navy Pier on Saturday, February 8. And in between, attendees can visit Chicago’s local cideries: Right Bee and Eris.

CiderCon® 2025 will be held at the beautiful Chicago Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. Registration is now open to all. Tickets to CiderCon® are just $435 for ACA members if booked by December 14th, after which point rates will rise to $499. Onsite registration for members is $635. Public tickets are $795 until December 14th, and $859 after that. Public onsite tickets are $995.

More information about the wide array of events and educational sessions being offered, as well as registration, can be found on the CiderCon® website. Follow @ciderconference on Instagram for the latest news. CiderCon® is an ACA event produced with the generous support of our members and ACA’s premier sponsor, FruitSmart.