Owner Dane Hauser shares insights on the process to apply for a USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant

It’s been over three years since they began their expansion project, and the team at Hauser’s Superior View Farm & Apfelhaus Cidery in Bayfield is almost ready now to reveal to the public their new hard apple cider taproom. The much-anticipated taproom, with its stunning vista views of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands, will open to the public in April.

On the last day of 2024, the team completed the final steps in the project to produce, market, and distribute hard apple cider.

A $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant helped fund the project.

The result has added two new jobs, increased the customer base by at least 4,000, and raised wholesale revenue by 22 percent.

The goal of wholesale growth was a key factor. For five generations, the Hauser family has managed the farm and business in an idyllic spot high up on the vast shores of Lake Superior. While the business enjoys an idyllic setting, it is also heavily reliant on seasonal tourism. Now, that’s all changing with the new business plan.   

“We were looking for ways to grow our year-round capacity,” said fifth-generation owner Dane Hauser.   

Retail sales of hard cider have gone up as well, increasing by three percent. The vibrant shop is stocked from floor to ceiling with craft foods like jams, sauces, and more. There are garden stakes, butterfly wall hangings, and other outdoor decorative items. Of course, there are plenty of ciders.   

This was the first time Dane and his wife Emma applied for a grant such as the VAPG.

“We wanted to expand our hard cider side of the business,” Dane said. “Our intention was to expand anyway, and the VAPG helped a ton.”

First, they needed to write up a business plan to provide with the application. They used a free agriculture business plan that the University of Minnesota provides.

“We researched online, and stumbled upon it,” Dane said. “It turned out to be a helpful tool that reinforced our plans and heightened our organization of the project. The plan goes into great depth, and while it may seem repetitive in places, the repeated points really make you think about every aspect even more.”

Before providing the business plan to USDA RD, his stepmother Ellen and sister Rebecca proofread the plan.

“It just helps to have more eyes on it,” Dane said. “They each provided a few comments like ‘maybe word this more like this’ or ‘remember this point.’”

Their proofreading was also helpful for minor errors and punctuation.

“They really cleaned it up and made it look professional,” Dane said.

The VAPG funding has helped them invest in five more five-gallon fermentation tanks. They also purchased a canning line, an apple grinder, a hydraulic bin tipper, and an elevator. They upgraded their apple press, which helped them triple and quadruple their hourly production. They purchased 20 bushel bins, which are more efficient than crates. They also added another bright tank.

“We already had one tank,” Dane said. “Now we can work on two different flavors at one time.”  

The production increase is one of the many reasons the application process was worthwhile.     

“You’ve definitely have got to be committed to put time into it, but in the long run it is worth every minute and every ounce of effort,” Dane said.

Electronic applications for VAPG will be accepted via the VAPG application portal until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2025.