The participation of Llucía Fernández Marqués in CiderCon, in Providence, served to present the Cider Cities project and to open new avenues of collaboration with cider associations in the United States, strengthening the international projection of Asturian cider and its role as a shared cultural heritage
LA SIDRA.- The presence of Llucía Fernández Marqués at CiderCon, held in Providence (Rhode Island, USA) in early February, marked a significant step in the international projection of the Cider Cities project.
CiderCon is currently the leading event for the cider sector in North America and a strategic meeting point for producers, associations, researchers, and professionals linked to cider culture.
During her stay at the event, Fernández Marqués held several meetings with key representatives of the U.S. cider sector. These included Christine Walter, Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Cider Association, and Monica Cohen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the same organization. Meetings were also held with Paul Vander Heide, President of the Michigan Cider Association, as well as with members of the Board of Directors of the New York Cider Association.
At these meetings, the Cider Cities project was presented—an initiative aimed at building networks of collaboration among cities with a strong cider-making tradition, fostering cultural, economic, and professional exchange between producing regions. The goal is to create a stable framework for cooperation that allows the sharing of experiences, best practices, and promotional strategies, from an international perspective that understands cider as a cultural and heritage product.
The idea generated interest among all those interviewed, who agreed to remain in contact digitally to explore potential collaborations and/or formal affiliations. The project was of particular interest to representatives of New York cider producers, who are currently working to claim the title of North American cider capital for their city, supported by a rapidly expanding sector with a growing number of producers, cideries, and initiatives linked to artisanal, high-quality cider.
In addition to institutional meetings, Cider Cities was presented to several international media outlets attending the event, representing an important step in increasing the project’s visibility and opening up new opportunities for future collaboration.
Participation in a forum such as CiderCon highlights the potential of Asturian cider to integrate into international networks without losing its identity or cultural roots. At a time when cider is gaining recognition and visibility worldwide, building links with other cider-producing regions strengthens the sector, encourages knowledge exchange, and helps position Asturias on the global cider map.
Initiatives such as Cider Cities promote an open and collaborative vision in which cider is understood not only as a beverage, but as a shared cultural element capable of crossing borders and creating bonds between territories with diverse histories and traditions, yet much in common.
