Cider Pressing at Mountain Roots Orchard in New Meadows
For many people, getting fresh pressed apple cider is a necessary part of celebrating the Fall season. A local gem, Mountain Roots Orchard, recently provided an opportunity for just that at their Community Apple Pressing on Saturday, October 19. Community members were invited to pick apples and participate in a share of the cider and in the pressing process.
Located at 5143 Highway 95 in New Meadows between Hazard Creek and Boulder Creek Roads, Mountain Roots Orchard is an heirloom orchard built on an early 1920’s homestead. Owners YaVonna and Gautam Komminani, along with their son Roshan, have a mission to preserve the existing fruit trees on the property and continuously improve the health of the orchard. They are working to maintain the property as a healthy habitat for insects, plants, and wildlife as well as make a place where people can connect with nature and others.
Ahead of the pressing event, people are invited to bring apples they pick to be used for cider. These apples are weighed to determine the amount that will be shared back in cider. Half a gallon of cider is given back for about every 25 pounds of apples brought in. People are welcome to attend with or without their own apples. This is a wonderful community event that feels like a gathering of friends as the Komminanis welcome people to their property each year.
The fresh pressed raw apple cider is delicious and being part of the process makes it even more special. Apples are washed and chopped and then placed into the large steel apple press. The press has a central bladder that is filled with water to expand and press all the delicious juice from the apples. The juice is moved to a large pot with an attached tube used to fill cartons and each carton is individually sealed and labeled with care.
Other events and offerings from Mountain Roots include events for National Pollinator Week, seasonal farm store and nursery, a booth at the New Meadows Farmer’s Market in the summer, and upcoming they are participating in a Harvest Dinner with the West Central Mountains Food Coalition at Paikka Bakery in McCall this Saturday, November 2.
Mountain Roots Orchard is now closed for the season, but they look forward to welcoming new and old friends in early June of 2025. Information on upcoming events and their 2025 opening date will be available at www.mountainrootsorchard.com or on their Facebook page of the same name. An excellent video of the cider pressing event can also be found on their Facebook page.
