Fall haul turns to cider

A crowd gathered Saturday to crush over 4,000 pounds of apples into cider.

By Kira Erickson • October 24, 2023 1:30 am

Fans of a quintessential autumnal beverage gathered on a recent crisp Saturday to crush over 4,000 pounds of South Whidbey apples into cider.

For four hours an assembly line of volunteers washed, chopped, ground and pressed the multi-colored apples into golden liquid during a Fall Festival held in the field behind the South Whidbey Community Center in Langley. The event was hosted by Woodhaven High School with other participating organizations present, such as the Organic Farm School, Master Gardeners of Island County and Good Cheer Food Bank, among others. Attendees were treated to lively music from Rubatano Marimba and Whidbey 4-H clubs provided a petting zoo of goats, ducks and chickens.

Marli Jenkins, an organizer for the event and an administrator for Woodhaven High School, estimated that about 160 gallons of apple cider were made that day. Woodhaven students, who currently number about 10, picked the bulk of the apples in Langley and the Maxwelton Valley area. The apples were picked every Monday at people’s houses and put into cold storage.

“It was really just kind of a great willingness to share the abundance of apples,” Jenkins said. “It was a pretty amazing apple year.”

On the day of the event, some attendees brought even more donations. Tart apples, sweet apples and everything in between was accepted.

“That’s what you want for cider, so it can really have a lot of depth of flavor,” Jenkins explained. “The more apples, the better the flavor.”

This is the alternative high school’s fourth year making cider with the help of the community. This year, a total of three apple presses were utilized. Jenkins estimated that a few hundred people showed up to participate.

“Our line did not stop for four hours. It was quite the event, and so much fun,” she said. “And I really feel like there’s so much value for young people to see what’s possible.”