Searching for Bulk Juice on East Coast

[Chelsea Luper]

I'm looking for bulk apple juice concentrate in 55 gallon barrels on the East coast, preferably as close to Florida as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions??

 

[paneubert]

Concentrate, or just juice?

These folks might have it, but more likely it is just going to be a barrel of juice.
http://www.knousefoodservice.com/products/bulk_ingredients/

 

[Chelsea Luper]

Thanks for the info! I'm primarily looking for concentrate as it keeps better.

 

[SanPancho]

Ask a local brewery to order you some. You can get tree top concentrate in bulk sizes from country malt group. Not cheap. Thats alot of apples. If i recall there are two main varieties for brewing. There may be others if your goal is not beer.

 

[Chelsea Luper]

We're a cidery only and I just moved down here from Seattle so having a much harder time finding apples in the south. I really appreciate all the info!

 

[madscientist451]

Here's a supplier in Michigan:
https://www.glccflavors.com/fruit-wine-bases


And another in Connecticut:

http://www.juicegrape.com/Fresh-Apple-Cider-for-Hard-Cidermaking-55-Gallon/

I know there is a cider company in South Carolina, they grown their own fruit.
If you want a supplier that's in the southeast, you're best move would be to seek out growers in North and South Carolina and develop business relationships with them.
You may be better off bringing in truckloads of juice from places like Michigan and Pennsylvania. Freight might not be as much as you think, truckloads of fresh orange juice head north every day and they are always looking for loads to back haul to Florida.
Just guessing, but you could probably get a 9,000 gallon load delivered for less than $2,000 (not counting the cost of the juice, just the trucking).
That's less than three cents a pint, so the economics will work if you can handle that much volume.

 

[Chelsea Luper]

Thanks for the info! 9,000 gallons is a bit more than I can handle right now but I'll look up those places you suggested.

 

[Ogroat]

Thanks for the info! 9,000 gallons is a bit more than I can handle right now but I'll look up those places you suggested.

9000 gallons of cider is more than I'd drink in a lifetime!