Virginia Cider Week

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

Virginia Cider Week

WHEREAS, cider was a colonial beverage enjoyed by our forefathers such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington as well as the common farmer, lawyer, butcher, and soldier; and

WHEREAS, orchards were planted by early settlers and colonials to provide apples to ferment to produce cider; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is currently the 6th largest apple producing state by acreage in the United States, and cider is a value-added product of apples, supporting an existing industry in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, agriculture is the Commonwealth’s largest industry with an economic impact of $82 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, agritourism is a growing component of Virginia’s tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, the cider industry in Virginia has experienced significant growth, with close to 30 cideries started since 2006, close to 20 wineries and breweries producing a cider, and multiple prospective cideries currently being planned; and

WHEREAS, the House of Delegates and the Senate passed House Joint Resolution 105 in 2012 to designate the week before Thanksgiving as Virginia Cider Week;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 10-19, 2023, as VIRGINIA CIDER WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations