A multi-year market-development initiative is working to introduce more international buyers to Canadian cider and help Canadian producers better understand opportunities beyond Canada.
A Story That Can Travel
Canadian-grown fruit, cold-climate agriculture, orchard-based production, regional diversity and Canada’s internationally recognized ice cider tradition provide a foundation for distinguishing Canadian cider in global markets.
With support through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriMarketing Program, Cider Canada is undertaking a multi-year export-development initiative designed to strengthen the industry’s understanding of priority markets and create connections with international trade.
Building the Foundation
Export development is about more than putting bottles on a plane. Producers need to understand:
consumer expectations
pricing
distribution
import requirements
labelling
market structure
buyer expectations
competitors
logistics
The project combines market intelligence with direct relationship-building so participating producers have better information while Canadian cider develops a clearer identity internationally.
Bringing Buyers to Canada
The program includes opportunities to introduce international trade contacts to Canadian producers and cider. An inbound component in Ottawa is designed to help international guests learn about the Canadian sector, meet producers and understand the range of products being made across the country.
Looking to the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is one of the world’s most developed cider markets and a natural place for Canadian producers to learn and build relationships. Cider Canada’s 2027 activity is being developed around a UK trade visit, with planned timing around CraftCon in April 2027 and the London Wine Fair in May 2027.
What Can Canada Offer?
The objective is not to imitate British, French, Spanish or American cider. The opportunity is to present something of our own:
ice cider
cold-climate fruit
Canadian orchard stories
regional diversity
premium specialty cider
innovative fruit and botanical products
traditional and heritage cider
modern Canadian approaches to fermentation
If Canadian cider is going to travel, the industry needs to be able to clearly explain what makes it distinctive.
Five Years of Cider Canada: Building a National Voice for Canadian Cider
April 20, 2026 marked five years since Cider Canada / Cidre Canada was incorporated. What began as an effort to give cider makers a stronger national voice has developed into an organization connecting producers, programs and industry partners across Canada.
A Growing Industry
Canadian cider has changed significantly over the past decade. Hundreds of producers now make cider across the country, from small orchard-based businesses to larger companies distributing products nationally. Producers are working with Canadian fruit, planting cider-specific apples, developing new styles and building cider destinations from Vancouver Island to Atlantic Canada.
Why a National Organization?
As the industry grew, so did the need for national coordination. Cider Canada / Cidre Canada was incorporated on April 20, 2021. One of the issues that helped bring the industry together was federal excise treatment. Producers needed a national organization capable of representing their interests and explaining how cider differed from other beverage-alcohol sectors.
From Advocacy to Industry Development
That advocacy role remains important, but the organization has grown far beyond it. Today, Cider Canada’s work includes:
government relations and advocacy
education
Canadian Cider Awards
consumer awareness
industry research
cider quality initiatives
market development
international trade
Ciders of Canada
partnerships
national collaboration
By June 2026, the organization listed 169 members.
What Comes Next
The organization’s next phase is increasingly focused on infrastructure that can help the sector mature: Cider Quality Assurance, Canadian cider terminology and consumer language, professional education, export-market development, national data, National Cider Month and deeper collaboration with provincial cider organizations.
Cider Canada has also created Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada, bringing another small Canadian fermented-beverage sector into a national collaborative structure.
Five years is still young for a national association. But the goal that led to Cider Canada’s creation remains the same: Canadian producers can accomplish more when they work together.
Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada: Building a National Home for Canadian Mead
In 2026, Cider Canada expanded its national collaborative model with the launch of Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada.
Shared Challenges, Different Beverages
Mead and cider are different beverages, but the industries behind them share a surprising amount. Both are relatively small compared with Canada’s major beverage-alcohol sectors, include many independently owned producers, have strong connections to Canadian agriculture and face challenges that can be difficult for small producers to address individually.
Working Together Without Losing Identity
Mead Canada operates within the Cider Canada organizational structure while maintaining its own sector identity. The goal is not to turn mead into cider. It is to allow Canadian mead producers to benefit from shared national infrastructure while developing programs and priorities specific to their industry.
government relations
education
industry development
market awareness
research
producer collaboration
events
membership services
From Board Approval to a National Community
Cider Canada’s Board approved the initiative in late 2025. The public launch followed in February 2026, and the first public Mead Canada meeting was held in July. A portion of mead membership revenue is dedicated back to mead-focused activity, with longer-term plans for formal sector representation.
Building Provincial Connections
In Québec, Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada developed a dual-membership relationship with Apiculteurs et Apicultrices du Québec, connecting national industry development with the province’s established beekeeping community.
Why Mead?
Canadian honey, fruit, botanicals, barrels and fermentation techniques create opportunities for mead strongly connected to place. That makes it relevant to many of the same conversations as cider: agriculture, value-added production, regional identity, small business, tourism, education and export potential.
Statement on U.S. Tariffs – Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
Archived public statement: originally published February 21, 2025. The wording below is retained as a record of Cider Canada / Cidre Canada’s public position at that time.
February 21st, 2025
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada recognizes the importance of international partnerships. However, the recent introduction and pause on tariffs imposed on Canadian exports, including cider, by the United States have made fair collaboration increasingly difficult. These potential trade barriers would place a direct strain on our industry, not only by limiting access to U.S. markets but also by increasing the cost of production and equipment sourced from the United States. These additional costs would negatively impact the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian cider makers.
Given these potential new challenges, we are shifting our focus toward strengthening our Canadian industry and exploring new export and partnership opportunities. If these trade barriers return and remain, Cider Canada / Cidre Canada will take the following actions:
Highlight Canadian suppliers: To mitigate rising costs, we will enhance our collaboration with local equipment manufacturers, ingredient providers, and other suppliers. Our priority is to promote a fully Canadian supply chain for the cider industry to reduce reliance on imported goods subject to tariffs.
Strengthen and celebrate the Canadian cider industry: We will increase efforts to showcase the achievements of Canadian cider makers through awards, recognition programs, and events that emphasize the quality and innovation of our products. This will help solidify the reputation of Canadian cider domestically and internationally.
Explore alternative export markets: We will expand efforts to develop new international markets, particularly in Europe and Asia, to create more opportunities for Canadian cider exports, diversifying our global presence.
Work aggressively with provincial liquor boards: If tariffs return and provincial liquor boards remove US products from provincial liquor systems, it is imperative that we aggressively pursue market share and shelf space for local Canadian cider across the country.
Support the reduction of interprovincial trade: Working with elected officials and staff to allow Canadian Cider to flow to consumers, regardless of their provincial location.
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada is offering to assist with provincial and federal discussions on reducing interprovincial trade barriers. Our members are ready to participate as needed
The tariffs unsustainable financial burdens, and while we remain open to dialogue, we urge policymakers to find a fair resolution that restores cross-border cooperation. Until then, our priority is to build a stronger, more resilient Canadian cider industry that can withstand these challenges.
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada will continue to work with members, partners, and government representatives to advocate for the interests of Canadian cider makers. We also call on our American colleagues to assess the negative impact these tariffs could have on economic relations between our two countries and to urge the US government to retract them immediately.
Cheers,
Barry Rooke
Executive Director, Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
& The Board of Directors for Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
Déclaration sur les tarifs douaniers américains – Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
21 février 2025
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada reconnaît l’importance des partenariats internationaux. Cependant, l’introduction récente et la pause des droits douaniers imposés par les États-Unis sur les exportations canadiennes, incluant le cidre, compliquent davantage la possibilité d’une collaboration équitable. Ces barrières potentielles commerciales pourraient impacter directement notre industrie, en restreignant l’accès au marché américain et en alourdissant les coûts de production ainsi que ceux des équipements importés des États-Unis. Ces coûts supplémentaires pourraient compromettre la compétitivité et la viabilité des producteurs de cidre canadiens.
Face à ces potentiels nouveaux défis, nous réorientons nos efforts afin de renforcer notre industrie au Canada et à explorer de nouvelles opportunités d’exportation et de partenariat. Si ces barrières commerciales persistent, Cider Canada / Cidre Canada entreprendra les actions suivantes :
Mettre en avant les fournisseurs canadiens : dans le but d’atténuer l’impact des coûts croissants, nous renforcerons notre collaboration avec les fabricants d’équipements, les fournisseurs d’ingrédients et d’autres partenaires locaux. Notre priorité sera de promouvoir une chaîne d’approvisionnement 100 % canadienne afin de limiter notre dépendance aux importations soumises aux tarifs douaniers.
Renforcer et célébrer l’industrie canadienne du cidre : nous redoublerons d’efforts pour mettre en lumière les réalisations des producteurs de cidre canadiens à travers des prix, des programmes de reconnaissance et des événements qui valorise la qualité et l’innovation de nos produits. Cela permettra de renforcer la réputation du cidre canadien au pays et à l’étranger.
Explorer d’autres marchés d’exportation : nous intensifierons nos efforts pour développer de nouveaux marchés internationaux, notamment en Europe et en Asie, afin de diversifier les opportunités pour le cidre canadien.
Travailler activement avec les régies provinciales des alcools: si les droits de douane sont rétablis et que les régies provinciales des alcools retirent les produits américains des systèmes provinciaux de vente d’alcool, il est impératif que nous cherchions activement à obtenir des parts de marché et des espaces d’étalage pour le cidre canadien local dans tout le pays.
Soutenir la réduction du commerce interprovincial: travailler avec les élus et le personnel pour permettre au cidre canadien de circuler jusqu’aux consommateurs, quelle que soit leur province d’origine.
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada propose de participer aux discussions provinciales et fédérales sur la réduction du commerce interprovincial. Nos membres sont prêts à participer, au besoin
Les tarifs douaniers imposent des charges financières considérables. Tout en restant ouverts au dialogue, nous appelons les décideurs politiques à trouver une solution équitable pour rétablir une coopération transfrontalière équilibrée. En attendant, notre priorité reste de bâtir une industrie du cidre canadienne plus forte et plus résiliente face à ces défis.
Cider Canada / Cidre Canada continuera à travailler avec ses membres, partenaires et représentants gouvernementaux pour défendre les intérêts des producteurs de cidre canadiens. Nous appelons également nos collègues américains à évaluer l’impact négatif que ces droits de douane pourraient avoir sur les relations économiques entre nos deux pays et à demander au gouvernement américain de les retirer immédiatement.
Santé,
Barry Rooke
Directeur exécutif, Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
& Le Conseil d’administration de Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
Cider Canada
Cider Canada is the leading association dedicated to promoting and advocating for the vibrant Canadian cider industry. Through collaboration, education, and representation, it champions the craft and traditions of Canadian cider makers.
