How to get cider specific apples

[b3nsf]

The closest thing to cider specific apples I can find is gravenstein or crab apples and they are $3 per lb... at Berkeley Bowl... what do you guys do for this problem?

 

[Maylar]

The price of apples in a grocery store is outrageous around here, and I'm in apple country. Doing the "pick your own" thing at the local orchards is the only way if you don't have your own trees. But the different varietals change with the season, so getting the right mix is a challenge. And unless the orchard is also a cider mill the chances of getting what you want is slim. So... I let them press the cider and buy it from them.

 

[madscientist451]

Most growers plant apples that people have heard of. Its hard to find even decent cooking apples anymore. The other problem is that commercial growers pick the fruit before its ripe. Un-ripe apples are more acidic and have less flavor. Ripe fruit makes better cider, but ripe fruit doesn't keep in storage and you get a lot more damage when the apples are handled.
You have to grow your own. I'm up to 35 trees, 20 different varieties, results so far: one apple about the size of a golf ball. Oh well there's always next year.
I've bought cider apple juice from local commercial cider makers (that have their own orchards) so contact any that are in your area.
About the best you can do is look for fully ripened fruit from yard trees in your area. They won't be cider apples, but if you can find enough varieties, you can make a decent cider.
In about 5-7 years I'll probably have more cider apples than I can use, so look me up then.