Washington Business Winter 2018 | Washington Business | Page 33

what’s working
“The cider industry is building jobs
and a stronger economy.
Businesses here in
Washington are very
conscious of the environment.”
“We have to avoid putting rules
on top of rules on top of rules
Colin Schilling, Co-Founder
that make it almost impossible
Schilling Cider, Seattle/Auburn
for farm families to compete.”
Alex McGregor, President
The McGregor Company
Colfax, WA
Reducing our carbon footprint, one can of cider at a time.
Colin Schilling has a passion for cider — great tasting hard cider made
with the best apples in the world. “All of our apples come from Eastern
Washington,” says Schilling, who founded his company in 2013.
“Because the
IN WASHINGTON STATE,
environment is so
“Schilling Cider
is making its cider from
of the freshest pressed
FARMING
IS some
A FAMILY
AFFAIR. important to us,
apples out there,” notes Schilling marketing director Nicole Ledford.
we
really believe
“We don’t have
to truck
long
distances
so rolling
we’re reducing
our Palouse
carbon in Eastern
Tucked
in the
middle
of the
hills of the
Washington,
a researcher
footprint.” named Cat Salois works in her office at The McGregor Company on new environmentally-
in the ‘leave-no-
conscious
that pristine
help farmers
increase
crop to yields and provide for a hungry world.
Their efforts to
preserve strategies
Washington’s
environment
extend
trace’ concept.”
their packaging. Schilling was the first cidery in the Northwest to convert
“This is a family affair,” says Salois. “In fact, families own 97% of farmland in Washington.
the majority of their ciders from bottles to more easily recycled cans.
We raise our families on the same ground we are farming, so we have every reason to be
“Because the excellent
environment
is so important
to us,
we really believe in the ‘leave-no-trace’ concept,”
stewards
of land we
farm.”
says Ledford.
Alex McGregor’s grandfather homesteaded land in Eastern Washington 135 years ago.
“Cans have a 95% recycle rate,” says Schilling. “On average, within 60 days, the recycled materials
“There is a sense of heritage, a sense that the land matters, and a stubborn belief in small
are back on the shelf as a new can.”
towns,” says McGregor. The McGregor Company is helping family farmers, ranchers and
Now that’s something
we can
all drink to. grow success throughout the Inland Northwest.
agricultural
communities
Meet about
other Schilling
AWB members
like
The McGregor Company that are creating
To learn more
Cider and
how
opportunity,
improving
lives,
and
strengthening
communities here in Washington.
businesses are creating jobs while watching out
Visit GrowHereWashington.com.
for our environment,
visit AWB.org/GrowHere.
PO Box 658, Olympia, WA 98507-0658 | 800.521.9325 | www.AWB.org
#GrowHere
#GrowHere
www.AWB.org | 800.521.9325
Post Office Box 658
Olympia, WA 98507-0658
winter 2018 33