Abbotsford's Taves Estate Cidery and the Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue (CFVSAR) are teaming up once again to transform backyard apples into a cider used to help raise funds for life-saving equipment.
The partnership began last fall and those apples collected have helped to create this yearโs first Taves Estate Cidery and CFVSAR release, a blackberry vanilla cider. That cider is available now and a portion of proceeds go to CFVSAR.
Residents are encouraged again to bring their backyard apples to the farm this year where they will be pressed, fermented, and bottled into a seasonal cider to be released in fall of 2025.
โCFVSAR is proud to collaborate with Taves Estate Cidery with proceeds going towards operational life-saving equipment," stated CFVSAR president James Roe. "Some of our members have also been assisting in the fermentation process and look forward to the release of their cider."
The inspiration behind this initiative was the brainchild of Taves Family Farm owner Loren Taves and staff member Kelsi Paul. Mindful of food waste, apples have been โrescuedโ for decades where they are transformed into value-added products, such as apple cider and apple chips.
โSince I began farming, our family has always worked to minimize food waste. Every year, people bring us their backyard apples for pressing. When Kelsi joined the local Search and Rescue team, inspiration struck and we decided to include the community to salvage unwanted apples. This exciting idea sparked the creation of this apple fundraising initiative where our sales would have a positive impact,โ stated Taves.
Those that are interested in supporting this initiative are asked to make direct arrangements by contacting 604.308.3730 or emailing sales@tavesestatecidery.com.
For anyone not donating apples but wanting to try the blackberry vanilla cider, it is available now at Taves Estate Cidery (333 Gladwin Rd.).
