{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=26d2d208-1429-4a4b-be62-a65b6cc4e6ed", "Manchin Supports Legislation to Lower Taxes on Hard Cider Products and Increase Farmers' Sales", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 06, 2013\n\t\t\t Manchin Supports Legislation to Lower Taxes on Hard Cider Products and Increase Farmers' Sales \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Manchin cosponsors the CIDER Act to tax hard cider like beer, not wine\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced that he cosponsored the CIDER Act (Cider Investment and Development through Excise Tax Reduction Act) to modernize the definition of cider in the Internal Revenue Code to increase the allowed alcohol by volume in cider beverages from 7 percent to 8.5 percent and to allow the use of pears as well as apples. The alcohol content of hard cider fluctuates greatly due to sugar content, and current law often forces these products to be taxed at a higher rate, preventing it from being labeled as hard cider. The change in the tax code would allow more hard cider products to be labeled and taxed like beer rather than wine.\r\nThe CIDER Act would also level the playing field in the global marketplace by changing the tax code for carbonation levels in hard cider to be in accordance with European Union levels, which would help producers better compete with European products and expand business opportunities in West Virginia and abroad.\r\n\u201cAny time that we can help the nearly 500 apple producers in West Virginia increase sales and support business ventures so our farmers can compete on a larger scale is simply a commonsense investment worth making,\u201d Senator Manchin said. \u201cI am thankful to work with my good friend Senator Chuck Schumer on this bill that will lower taxes on hard cider products, while also increasing competition at the local, state and national levels. Let\u2019s continue to promote business growth for our hardworking farmers and reform an outdated tax that would increase the sales of delicious hard cider beverages and goods.\u201d\r\nWest Virginia apple production was ranked 9th in the country in 2011, according to the U.S. Apple Association. The CIDER Act would positively impact the rising trend of apple production statewide.\r\nPlease review additional West Virginia apple production statistics below:\r\n\u2022\u00a0West Virginia apple production jumped 36 percent in 2012, while production fell nationally 4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.\r\n\u2022\u00a0West Virginia growers harvested 91 million pounds of apples in 2012, up 24 million pounds from 2011. (67 million pounds in 2011 and 64 million pounds in 2010.)\r\n\u2022\u00a0According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average per-pound price for West Virginia apples was 25.8 cents in 2012, up 8.3 cents from 2011.\r\n\u2022\u00a0The U.S. Apple Association announced West Virginia\u2019s estimated apple production for 2013 will be 1.5 million bushels, which is 63 million pounds.\r\n\u2022\u00a0West Virginia commercially grows several apple varieties, including Red Delicious, Grimes Golden, Golden Delicious, York Imperial, Rome Beauty, Stayman, and Gala.\r\n\u2022\u00a0West Virginia\u2019s apple production is centered in the state\u2019s Eastern Panhandle in Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire and Morgan counties.\r\nList of apple producing orchards in West Virginia:\r\nMorgan Orchard   Monroe County\r\nShanholtz Orchard  Hampshire County\r\nMount Levels Orchard  Hampshire County\r\nNob Hill Orchards  Berkeley County\r\nMountaineer Orchard   Berkeley County\r\nOrr's Farm Market & Orchard  Berkeley County\r\nWalnut Hill Orchard  Jefferson County\r\nSummit Point Raceway Orchards  Jefferson County\r\nWarm Spring Orchard  Jefferson County\r\nRidgefield Farm And Orchard  Jefferson County\r\nJefferson Orchards  Jefferson County\r\nMcConnell Berry Farm  Monongalia County\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=26d2d208-1429-4a4b-be62-a65b6cc4e6ed"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.19679600559175, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}