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 with over 50 cultivars of apples used to produce cider; 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 over 50 cideries producing across the state; and

WHEREAS, the sales of Virginia cider saw a 10.5% increase in 2023 and holds a 24% market share of all cider sold in the state; 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 15-24, 2024, 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