Governor Hochul Launched NY State of Cider Campaign
The initiative aims to bolster agricultural tourism by highlighting the state's cider production regions.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Organic Food
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Governor Kathy Hochul has officially launched the NY State of Cider campaign to promote local orchards and cideries. The project aims to boost agricultural tourism and support the state's robust cider industry.
Why it matters
The campaign seeks to leverage New York's status as a top national producer to drive economic growth for small businesses and rural communities. It creates a structured bridge between the agricultural sector and tourism, emphasizing the state's role in the national cider market.
New York leads the nation in total hard cideries and ranks second in total apple production. The state's cider industry currently generates more than $1.8 billion in annual economic activity.
The players
Kathy Hochul
She is the Governor of New York who oversees the state's economic and agricultural policy initiatives.
New York Cider Association
This is a trade organization that advocates for and promotes the interests of the state's cidermakers.
Airbnb
This is an online marketplace for lodging and tourism experiences that partnered with the state to create the digital travel guide.
The details
Developed as part of an objective from the 2026 State of the State address, the initiative includes a digital travel guide created by the New York Cider Association and Airbnb. The guide organizes the state into five designated cider regions, helping travelers connect with local orchards, lodging, and dining options.
Timeline
The campaign was announced as an objective in 2026.
The official launch date occurred on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Culture Shift
The campaign represents a shift toward formalized agritourism that capitalizes on a growing consumer preference for hyper-local experiences. By integrating digital platforms with traditional farming, it reflects a broader move to modernize how agricultural sectors engage with tourism.
Residents and visitors can use the new digital travel guide to plan outings to local orchards and cideries across the five designated regions. This helps streamline weekend travel planning while directly supporting small-scale cider producers in local communities.
The takeaway
Travelers interested in visiting rural communities can leverage this guide to explore New York's extensive network of orchards and cider producers. This resource simplifies the logistics of farm-to-glass tourism while highlighting the state's significant role in the apple industry.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's agricultural landscape in the Organic Food section.
Live Poll
Do you believe state-led tourism campaigns provide meaningful support to your local agricultural businesses?
