September 4, 2024 MANCOS, CO — Fenceline Cider’s Community Pick is back for the second year. Neighbors of the cidery in and around Southwest Colorado are invited to contribute their 2024 apple harvests to become Fenceline cider.
The Community Pick initiative was designed by Fenceline Cider to revive the region’s cider traditions while actively engaging local residents. Nestled amid numerous abandoned orchards thriving in Montezuma County’s rich soil and arid climate, the Mancos cidery remains steadfast in their commitment to upcycle the region’s heritage apples and unique varietals into remarkable craft cider. They assist those with trees on their properties in transforming their orchards into profitable ventures, all while reducing the waste of unused fruit.
In 2023, Fenceline Cider had a record-breaking harvest season, yielding a total of 127,331 pounds of fruit. This total included 41,138 pounds harvested from more than 75 different orchards located in Montezuma and La Plata counties through Community Pick.
For those with apple trees on their properties with the ability to harvest them, Fenceline pays 30 cents per pound of fruit. Apples contributed should comply with Fenceline’s guidelines and quality standards: Fruit must be properly ripe (ie. brown or black seeds), clean, and absent of leaves, rot, and large bird pecks. A minimum of three bushels must be dropped off in order to be paid; however Fenceline will accept any amount as donation. In exchange for three or more bushels of apples that meet these criteria, Fenceline will offer cider, a bar tab, or cash payment.
Recommended drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm at the Fenceline taproom in downtown Mancos. Please schedule ahead for large drop offs or alternative dropoff times by calling 970.533.4005.
“The Fenceline team is only so big, only has so many sets of hands, and can pick only a portion of the area’s fruit in any given year,” says Fenceline Founder Sam Perry. “This is why we need community help to bring in the harvest. ‘Many hands make light work.’”
ABOUT FENCELINE CIDER
Preserving the legacy of the American West, by upcycling wild and historic apples into distinct handcrafted cider.
Rooted along the upper tributaries of the Colorado River, Fenceline was founded with a curiosity and admiration for wild and historic apples. Surrounded by thousands of abandoned orchards that continue to grow in Montezuma County’s rich soil and arid climate, we are committed to upcycling the region’s heritage apples and wild, one-of-a-kind varietals into extraordinary craft cider.
Reviving the region’s cider traditions, our cider is crafted with cold, slow fermentation — producing a drier libation, with complex flavors, and less sugar.
What began by crafting a barrel of hard cider for a friend’s union from a handful of heirloom apple trees, has blossomed into the place for people, from near and far, to come together in the Mancos Valley, at our little spot on the river. Visit us online at fenceline.co.
