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, early settlers and colonists planted orchards to provide apples for fermentation and cider production; and

WHEREAS, Virginia ranks fifth nationally in apple production by weight, with more than 50 apple cultivars grown for cider making; and

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

WHEREAS, cideries play a growing role in Virginia’s thriving agritourism industry; and

WHEREAS, the cider industry in Virginia has experienced significant growth, with more than 50 cideries now operating across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the popularity of Virginia ciders continues to rise, with 2024 sales increasing 18 percent from the previous year and Virginia-made cider accounting for 28 percent of all cider sales statewide; and

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

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize November 16–22, 2025, as VIRGINIA CIDER WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.