This story has been updated with new information.
Nothing says fall in Michigan like a trip to grab doughnuts and cider — you may even catch stunning fall colors on the way.
From metro Detroit to Kalamazoo to the Flint area and beyond, there are plenty of local cider mills to patronize this season. Many offer family-friendly activities and a chance to pick your own pumpkins or seasonal produce.
Some Michigan cider mills are already open, harvesting their apples and making the refreshing drink, and selling a variety of sweet baked goods. Other businesses still await their fall launch or are open now, but will begin making and selling cider come within the next few weeks.
The seasonal tradition dates back centuries and represents a cornerstone of local agriculture, with Michigan business owners carrying on family legacies of 19th century mills, serving up sweet treats for communities around the state.
Michigan’s official apple crop estimate of 30 million bushels (1.26 billion pounds) was announced Aug. 15 as part of the USApple Outlook meeting in Chicago. The 2025 estimate is above average for the Michigan Apple industry.
Michigan harvested an estimated 30.5 million bushels of apples in 2024, the Michigan Apple Committee said. There are more than 17.6 million apple trees in commercial production, covering 38,000 acres on 850 family-run farms in Michigan.
Here’s what to know about cider mills in Michigan.
When do Michigan’s cider mills reopen for fall 2025?
There are many cider mills across Michigan. Here are opening dates and schedules for some mills across the state:
How can I find other apple orchards in Michigan?
The Michigan Apple Committee provides an interactive map on its website highlighting Michigan orchards. The map shows both farm markets and cider mills.
What is a cider mill?
A cider mill is a mill where apples are crushed into cider, a popular fall beverage served hot or cold. In Michigan, many apple orchards operate cider mills to produce the beverage from the varieties of fresh apples grown on their property.
How did cider mills get started?
Cider traces its roots to Europe, where it is typically fermented and served as an alcoholic beverage, per and Manoff Market Gardens and Falstaff, a European dining magazine.
European settlers planted apple trees in colonial North America in the 17th century, bringing over the custom of turning their apples into cider as a popular beverage, Manoff Market Gardens and Happy Valley Ranch Cider Press say.
Cider mills across the U.S. now offer cider as a fall staple, a non-alcoholic beverage, though the alcoholic version, known as hard cider, is also available at cideries nationwide, including in Michigan.
In Michigan, many cider mills are family-owned dating back several generations to the 19th century.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s orchards set to open with cider and donuts: Where to find them
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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