Connecticut’s Lyman Orchards, one of the oldest continuously operating family-owned farms in the United States, has expanded distribution of its 1741 Hard Cider into neighboring Massachusetts through a partnership with Quality Beverage, a division of Martignetti Companies.
Located in Middlefield, Connecticut, approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Hartford in the heart of New England, Lyman Orchards has been family owned and operated since 1741. For nearly three centuries, the Lyman family has cultivated apples and other fruit on the same land, making the orchard an enduring part of American agricultural history.
Named for the year the farm was established, 1741 Hard Cider reflects that heritage, with ciders crafted from apples grown in the orchard’s own Connecticut orchards. Leading the Massachusetts rollout are two offerings: Connecticut Crisp, introduced in 2018 and made with regional apples without added sugar, and Orchard Blueberry, a fruit-forward cider released in 2025. Both are gluten-free and available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans, while Connecticut Crisp is also offered on draft, giving retailers a choice between a classic apple cider and a fruit-forward alternative.
The move into Massachusetts marks the first significant expansion of the cider brand beyond Connecticut. It is not, however, Lyman Orchards’ first presence in the Bay State. The orchard’s fruit pies have long been sold in Big Y supermarkets throughout Massachusetts, providing existing brand recognition that may help introduce consumers to its hard cider.
As New England’s most populous state and Connecticut’s northern neighbor, Massachusetts represents a logical first step for regional expansion while allowing the orchard to remain closely connected to its agricultural roots.
Lyman Orchards is part of a growing number of historic orchards that have diversified into cider production, adding value to their apple harvests while introducing new audiences to orchard-grown cider. Across North America and other cider-producing regions, this model has become an increasingly important way for family farms to preserve agricultural traditions while adapting to changing consumer markets.
Listen to past episode on another New England orchard that diversified with adding cider!
The expansion also reflects the continued evolution of New England’s cider industry. Long recognized for its apple-growing heritage, the region has experienced renewed interest in craft cider over the past two decades, with orchard-based producers helping reconnect consumers with beverages made from locally grown fruit.
Why This Matters to Ciderville
Stories like this demonstrate how heritage orchards continue to evolve while remaining rooted in agriculture. Lyman Orchards’ expansion into Massachusetts is more than a distribution announcement, it illustrates how established apple growers are using cider to diversify their businesses, reach new markets, and strengthen the connection between orchards and consumers. For the global cider community, it is another example of how centuries-old farms continue to find new opportunities in today’s modern cider industry.
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