CHASTON, Wis. -- On a busy autumn weekend Maple Ridge Orchard can sell as much as 100 gallons of apple cider, which is made on-site using a stainless steel hydropress that sits in an open-air shelter. Like many Wisconsin cider presses, Maple Ridge’s press had been exempt from state regulations for years. But Lisa Rodriguez, who owns the Cashton orchard with her husband Domingo Rodriguez, said state inspectors now say the device must be enclosed in order to meet license requirements for retail-food establishment. It’s because the orchard sells other fall staples such as baked goods and caramel apples.
Orchard owners contest state regulations
In addition to selling apple cider and apples, Maple Ridge Orchard has a farm store with apple-cider donuts, freshly baked pies, turnovers, hand-dipped caramel apples and Bloomin' Apple Desserts.





