Local farmers say apple cider will cost more this year.
"We almost lost 80 or 90 percent. It's that bad," Steven Dunn, owner of Dunn's Fruit Farm, New Ringgold, said about his apple crop. Frost, hail, stinkbugs and other unwelcome side effects took a bite out of the apple crop this year, he said.
He is selling apple cider at $6.50 a gallon, up $2 from last year. A half gallon is selling for $4.50, an increase of $1.50 from 2011. He has apples stored, so he does not expect to run out anytime soon.
Supply and demand is another reason the price escalated, he said.
States like Michigan and New York lost a large percentage of their apple crop due to weather conditions this year. A half gallon of apple cider is selling for $10 in Michigan, he said.
John Heim, owner of Heim's Fruit Farm, Mc-Keansburg, has a similar story to tell.
"My apple crop is poor at best. I lost probably 90 percent to the frost in the spring," Heim said Friday.
Normally, he harvests 100 bushels or more yearly. This year, it was "no more than 20 bushels total," he said.
He agreed consumers can expect to pay more for the fall drink.
At Stein's Fruit Farm, Orwigsburg, there are more than enough apples for sale. They also have cider that is pressed in Valley View. Kevin Hoffman, an employee, said "every tree is loaded and they're real big."
About six acres of apples are planted on a hill. Other trees are bordering the apple trees, which Hoffman said helps the apples survive during the frost.
Norman Stein, volunteer at the farm, said despite the abundance of apples at Stein's, the high demand for apples on the East Cost is driving up prices. A gallon of cider at Stein's sells for $6. A half gallon is $3.50. Stein said the price has increased about $1 over last year per gallon, and about 50 cents per half gallon.
"It's a different ball game this year," he said.
Someone from Virginia wanted to purchase the entire apple crop but was told "no," he said.
Alan Minnig, 57, of Schuylkill Haven, said he was still going to buy some cider.
"It's not like gasoline. If it goes up a little bit that's not going to stop me from buying apple cider," he said while at Stein's on Saturday.
Karen Rodriguez, executive director of the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, Harrisburg, agreed consumers will see an increase in the price of cider this year.
"There's definitely a huge demand on the East Coast," she said Thursday.
Trees bloomed early this year, she said.
"Once that tree blooms, that tree is susceptible to tree damage," she said.
About 90 percent of the apple crop in Michigan was wiped out. New York lost more than 40 percent of its crop, she said.
"That's why you see the eastern production down so low," she said.
Statewide, the apple crop is going to be larger than last year by about 5 percent, she said.
"For the most part in Pennsylvania, we do have apples," Rodriguez said. The state produces about 11 million bushels a year, she said.
Michigan and New York are the second- and third-largest apple-producing states. Washington is first, while Pennsylvania is fourth. Washington's apple production is projected at 5 percent higher than last year, or about 5.7 billion pounds, according to a press release from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Overall, the national apple forecast in down 14 percent from last year, the release states.
Of course, you can buy apple cider from a local store if you're so inclined.
Dennis Curtin, director of public relations for Weis Markets, agreed the cost has gone up for cider.
Shoppers will pay about $5.99 a gallon, a $1 increase from last year.
"The reason is fairly simple, while much of our cider is produced in Pennsylvania, they use apples from Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan. Michigan had a poor apple crop due to an early frost in March and New York's crop was affected by hail storms in July, which resulted a poor crop and a limited supply of cider apples. As a result, due to continuing demand, prices have gone up. It should be noted that we have absorbed some of this increase but we can't absorb all of it," he said in an email.
Chris Brand, public and community relations manager of Giant Food Stores, said the loss of crops in Michigan and New York have affected prices.
In an email, he said the cost of cider has gone up between 50 and 70 percent, but that the store will absorb most of the increase. Prices will increase about 20 percent, or about a $1 a gallon.