Leaders of the American Cider Association opened CiderCon 2026 last week in Providence, Rhode Island by pointing to modest category growth, structural challenges and a renewed focus on organizational discipline as the group looks to shape the next phase of the US cider industry.
Speaking to cider producers from across the country during the yearly conference, ACA President Christine Walter and CEO Monica Cohen framed 2026 as one requiring clearer leadership and collaboration, both within individual businesses across the country and at the association level, as cideries contend with shifting consumer behavior and rising costs.
Walter, who owns Bauman’s Cider in Oregon, acknowledged that many cideries are operating under sustained pressure tied to broader trends across beverage alcohol and agriculture.
“The broader alcohol landscape has been challenging. Consumer behavior is shifting. Costs are up. Sales pressures are very real,” Walter said. “Many of us have felt uncertainty in ways that test our resilience.”
Despite those headwinds, Walter said cider has shown relative strength compared with other alcohol categories. Citing Nielsen multi-outlet and convenience store data through late 2025, she said cider volume increased 1.7% year over year, while dollar sales rose by roughly 2%.
“When we look at the past year of beverage alcohol, we see softness everywhere, except for cider,” Walter said.
Growth within the category has not been evenly distributed. Walter pointed to traditional, unflavored dry ciders as the fastest-growing segment, with volume increasing approximately 12.4%. She said that trend reflects a shift in how consumers are approaching the category.
“That matters because it tells us consumers are choosing cider as a preference, not as a substitute,” Walter said.
Walter also highlighted increased investment activity within the industry, including acquisitions among established cideries, expanded production capacity and capital investments in facilities. She said additional visibility and resources have come from beer producers entering the cider space, reinforcing the perception of cider as a viable long-term business.
“Cider is no longer viewed as a side project or a seasonal experiment,” Walter said. “It’s being treated as a serious, scalable business.”
It was noted that the US craft cider market was valued at approximately $1.8 billion in 2025, according to figures shared during the presentation, with global demand for fruit-based alcoholic beverages expected to continue growing. At the same time, Walter noted that agricultural labor challenges, including ongoing immigration-related disruptions, continue to affect orchards and producers nationwide.
Cohen, who joined the ACA as CEO in early 2025, focused her remarks on internal changes at the association following what she described as a year of reassessment. She said the organization had to narrow its scope after recognizing limitations in its capacity to pursue multiple initiatives simultaneously.
“The desire to do everything was there. The ability to do everything was not,” Cohen said. “We had to figure out where we really needed to be focused.”
Cohen said roughly one-third of US cider producers are currently members of the ACA, a figure she described as a signal that the organization must more clearly demonstrate tangible value. She said the association has spent the past year speaking with current members, former members and nonmembers to better understand what support is most needed.
“About a third of the cideries in this country are in our membership,” Cohen said. “To me, that’s a look-in-the-mirror moment. Don’t just talk about value. Bring value.”
Those conversations led to a reassignment of investments toward advocacy, education and direct business support, Cohen said, as producers navigate tighter margins and operational strain.
Cohen also pointed to a broader challenge facing the category: limited consumer understanding of cider’s range and complexity. While she said cider is well positioned to meet demand for new and differentiated beverages, she noted that its diversity remains underrecognized.
“There is diversity in cider, but most consumers don’t realize it,” she said.
Both emphasized that the coming year will require coordinated leadership across the industry, framing the current moment as one of transition rather than contraction. Cohen said producers themselves play a central role in shaping how cider is perceived in the marketplace.
“This is a moment of evolution, not just survival,” Cohen added.
