New Community Apple Press Opens in Sebastopol, Offering Market for Local Growers

A community apple press has officially opened in Sebastopol, providing a new market for local produce. The facility allows casual apple growers and small farmers to bring their fruit for free processing every week at a cidermaker’s headquarters. The press, which can handle up to a ton of apples per day, was established through a partnership with Slow Food Russian River and funded by a $90,000 grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The establishment of the press addresses the need for new revenue streams for small-scale producers in Sonoma County. This initiative is particularly important as growers cope with declining profits and competition from larger corporate producers and the wine industry.