A family cider mill

This past weekend, this reporter stopped at Willis Wood’s Cider Mill to learn the cider making process. Wood’s cider mill is located on the Weathersfield Center Road.

www.vermontjournal.com

A family cider mill BY RON PATCH October 15, 2018 cider mill Willis Wood talking with customers. Photo by Ron Patch. WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. – This past weekend, this reporter stopped at Willis Wood’s Cider Mill to learn the cider making process. Wood’s cider mill is located on the Weathersfield Center Road in Weathersfield. While I was there, customers drifted in and out. The cider press has multiple racks of ground apples to which the huge press squeezes out the cider. Most every day, Willis buys 210 bushels of apples from local orchards. First the apples are scrubbed and then rinsed. Then they pass to a grinder, which grinds the apples to the desired size for the press. Willis produces about 700 gallons of cider daily. Next the cider is sent to the evaporator where it is boiled down to “boiled cider” and bottled. If the cider is cooked longer, Willis makes cider jelly. This process is similar to boiling maple syrup. I was wearing my woolen hunting jacket, and when I got home I could still smell the wonderful aroma of cooked cider. Believe me, this is something you should experience. Willis is always open weekends, making his jelly and boiled cider although he is often open during the week until early November. Stop by. You won’t see any tour busses or gimmicks, just a family operation making an honest product. Willis will also take the time to explain his operation. The Wood family has been making cider at this location since 1882. If you want a genuine product without additives or preservatives, this is the place to go. This reporter bought both boiled cider and cider jelly. Ask Willis the history of boiled cider while there.