Through a medieval process, several student-leaders and a small handful of students learned how to operate a cider press at the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Oct. 7 at an event organized by the Recreational Sports Outdoor Program.

A student leader said the press is in impeccable condition at over 100 years old and will be up and running for many more to come. 

The process largely relies on collective communication and effort. It takes one person to put the apples into the press, another to crank it, which crushes the apples, and another to ensure that the apples continue to move as smoothly as possible.

An attending student observing and participating in the pressing process for the first time said that it is a very physical process. It appears to be simple because you put the apples in and the machine crushes them to get the juice. 

The use of the cider press dates back to 13th century France and England. It became a more popular practice when the horse mill, typically used to grind grain and pump water, was created. Because of this, the process became much less hands-on and more of a mechanical, engineered task that varied heavily in length.

The student-leaders shared that the apples used came from the UMD Land Lab, which contains a five-acre apple orchard. Though the apples come from the local farm, the origins of the trees often come from countries such as Kazakhstan. 

In places like Minnesota where the autumn season tends to appear in late September, activities such as visiting apple orchards or pumpkin patches, and drinking apple cider mark the beginning of fall.Students say it gets them in the mood for the season and excited to do fall activities. 

While apple cider can represent the beginning of fall, it also can have health benefits. When pressed directly, it can produce antioxidants, several of which have a role in reducing cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and disease. This is thanks to higher levels of fiber, water, as well as vitamins and minerals.

So while apple cider may display the beginning of fall to some, it can also mean a variety of other things such as health, culture, history, and simple joy.