Cold, warm, or mulled.  By the glass or right out of the jug.   These are the ways I delight in the flavor of Wilson Banner Ranch’s Apple Cider.  For the nearly six years that I’ve lived on the Palouse, I’ve celebrated fall with their tasty beverage.  It’s now a Johna tradition.  On a cool, crisp afternoon I interviewed Keri Wilson, who oversees sales, marketing, and educational events for the farm and is also the daughter of the farm’s owners, Joe and Annetta Wilson, at their farm west of Clarkston. 

Since the 1970s, Wilson Banner Ranch has provided the Co-op with variety of produce: apples, peaches, nectarines, corn, cherries, melons, and of course their apple cider.  Although the Co-op has transformed in numerous ways over the years, their presence remains a constant.  Keri shared a few of her childhood memories accompanying her father during deliveries to the store, “I remember wandering through barrels of food and being given a spoonful of peanut butter.”

The Wilson family has a long history of distributing produce in the area.  It’s hard for me to imagine almost 100 years before the Moscow Food Co-op’s inception!  In 1888, Joe’s grandfather homesteaded the family’s land and later built a greenhouse.  Keri explained that in the early 1900s he walked to Lewiston with packs full of produce and made deliveries to the Palouse by riding a ferry across the Snake River and then boarding a train to Pullman.   In the 1970s they delivered to fraternities and sororities, and participated in Moscow’s budding Farmers Market.  Today the farm’s operations continue to be a family affair with Joe, Annetta, their children, and spouses taking on various roles. 

October is a festive, busy month for the farm.  Keri discussed their goals to be open and welcoming to the public and the importance for people to be able to “meet farmers and see where their food comes from.”  During the week, senior citizens and youth tour the orchards and pumpkin patch, and get a peek at the cider room.  On Mondays and Tuesdays, senior facilities bring their clients to enjoy the serenity and fresh air at the farm.  Many of the seniors are longtime customers or were raised on farms, so the Wilson’s appreciate the opportunity to visit with them.  Thursdays and Fridays are referred to as “kid days” with young energy buzzing throughout the farm.  Classrooms learn about a particular fruit or vegetable’s country of origin and uses of it in different countries.  Keri said tour guides share facts in ways that appeal to children like “if you cook with pumpkins you can make orange soup!”  Each student gets a cup of cider, a pumpkin, a piece of fruit, and an educational bag with recipes and activity books such as “Power Up with Pears.” 

In addition to their weekly schedule with the public, the first and last weekends of October are the farm’s Harvest Fairs.  Live music, events for kids, and local food all contribute to the celebration of fall.  Specifically for the fairs are scrumptious, blackberry shortcakes crafted by Panhandle Artisan Bread Company using Shepherd’s Grain flour, homemade ice cream from Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle in Spokane, and the farm’s blackberries.  

As the Wilson Family has lived and worked on the property for 122 years, they are mindful of their land and crop management practices, and follow an integrated pest management program.  While talking to Keri, Joe joined in on the interview and discussed the importance of using sprays that are safe for the user and insects; they must be “soft on honey bees and also our wild pollinators like the bumble, leafcutter and mason bees.” Joe said that Alpowa “Creek is the lifeblood of the farm.”  Therefore, they work with their local conservation district on annual water testing and water conservation.  Grass is grown throughout the orchard to prohibit runoff, and cottonwood trees and plants line the banks of the creek to provide a perfect habitat for fish and pollinators.  This year the creek has a new visitor, a resident beaver! 

If you are seeking a sip of their cider, why not head down to their farm?  If you want to stay in Moscow and want it hot, you can find it at Bucer’s Coffeehouse Pub and Retro Espresso.
 
Johna loves rolling around in leaf piles; particularly relishing the earthy smells and crunchy sounds.