Gold Ridge Organic Farms Launches Heritage Apple Press Initiative By Made Local Magazine

One door closes and another opens—or more specifically, as one Sonoma County apple processing facility heads toward closure, another plans to open.

Gold Ridge Organic Farms has announced plans to open a new 20,000-square-foot apple processing facility in Santa Rosa that will expand local processing capacity for organic apple growers and cider producers. This is good news for area farmers who heretofore faced the loss of local processor Manzana Products Company as it prepares to close its historic apple processing facility in Graton and relocate operations to Washington state.

While equipment delivery delays and supply chain issues have postponed the complete shutdown of Manzana’s California packing lines until early 2027, the loss of one of the region’s longtime processing outlets has raised concerns among apple growers. Read our piece on how Manzana’s closure affected local apple growers here: Hard Core .

Gold Ridge Organic Farms has announced its plans for a new processing venture aimed at supporting Northern California growers in a statement released today. The organic-certified facility, called Heritage Apple Press, will provide fresh-pack services, custom pressing and market-development opportunities for growers throughout Sonoma County, Mendocino County, the Pajaro Valley and beyond. (read our piece about Gold Ridge Organic Farms here) The project comes as Northern California apple growers face a shrinking number of processing options for their fruit.

“We have some of the most remarkable heritage apples in the world growing right here in Northern California, including the iconic Gravenstein,” said Brooke Hazen, farmer and owner of Gold Ridge Organic Farms. “By supporting growers and bringing more locally grown apples to consumers, we hope this investment helps keep these orchards thriving and strengthens the future of apple farming in Northern California.”

In addition to offering processing services, Gold Ridge plans to purchase apples from growers for use in a new line of Gold Ridge-branded cider products, creating an additional market for organic fruit.

The initiative was developed through conversations with growers, agricultural organizations, farm advisors, cider makers and food system leaders. Additional operational details, grower participation information and opening timelines will be announced in the coming months, according to Gold Ridge.

“Our hope is to open during the 2026 harvest season,” Hazen said.

Founded in 2000 by Hazen, Gold Ridge Organic Farms is an 88-acre Oregon Tilth Certified Organic olive orchard, heirloom apple farm and olive mill in Sebastopol. The farm cultivates more than 70 varieties of heirloom and modern apples.