As farmers, apple pressers, and seasoned chefs with years of collective experience, we at Carlson Orchards Hard Cider are dedicated to crafting a quality product that revolves around the essence of apples. Our journey begins right here on the farm, where we tend to our apple trees with care, ensuring they produce the finest fruit. We carefully blend apples for pressing, ensuring that we start with great tasting apple cider to ferment. Drawing upon our farming and culinary expertise, we create cider that captures the true essence of apples, celebrating their natural flavors in every sip.

PRESSED The Rowse family traces its roots in the apple industry back to the late 1800’s. Steve and Dave Rowse are 4th generation heirs to a tradition of apple pressing, and took on the Carlson’s fresh cider-making operation in 2011, moving it to Leominster, Mass, a short distance from the birthplace of John Chapman (a/k/a Johnny Appleseed). While separate operations, the Carlson’s farm in Harvard and the Rowse’s cider mill in Leominster are indelibly connected in their mission to deliver terrific cider products.

GROWN Carlson Orchards of Harvard, Mass., established in 1936 by Walter and Eleanor Carlson, has cultivated its own rich traditions. What began as a diversified farm, encompassing chickens, cows, potatoes, and apples, evolved into a specialized fruit haven. Apples reign supreme as the mainstay crop but peaches, nectarines, cherries, and various berries have a significant presence too. In the 1980s, farm management transitioned to the three Carlson sons, Bruce, Franklyn, and Robert. Today, Katie Carlson, daughter of Franklyn, works with Bruce to continue the family's legacy, upholding their reputation for producing top-quality apples and apple products.

FERMENTED Amidst this historical backdrop emerges Paul Correnty, whose upbringing from Florida to France ignited a passion for fermented cider. Returning to New England years later, he was struck by the absence of cider culture, leading him to pen "The Art of Cidermaking" in 1995 and helping to establish Franklin County Cider Days as a premier celebration of hard cider. Joining up with the Rowse brothers in 2018, Paul's expertise has enriched the hard cider venture, bringing a refined palate and decades of fermentation knowledge to the expanding hard cider lineup.

Together, the Rowses, the Carlsons, and Paul Correnty, united by their love of all things apple, nurture Carlson Orchards Hard Cider. Theirs is an unique blend of heritage, innovation, and a shared zeal for cidermaking. As one enters the cider mill, a simple sign speaks volumes: "It all began with an apple." From humble origins to the present, Carlson Orchards Hard Cider serves as a tribute to the enduring legacy of the apple and those who cherish it.