Cider producer Apal wins agricultural award

'Dan Olav is one of Rogaland’s leading local food producers, and the regional partnership is delighted and proud to present him with this award. We believe he is a highly deserving representative of Rogaland’s agricultural sector and wish him every success in the national competition,' says Kari Holmefjord Vervik, chair of the jury and our Regional Director for Rogaland.

The award winner was delighted and surprised to receive the award:

'I didn't see this one coming,' he said from the podium.

'This is wonderful recognition of what we do, and it gives us plenty of inspiration to keep going. We are going to grow even bigger!' a delighted Dan Olav Sæbø promised before a packed county council.

As a young carpenter in Stavanger, Dan Olav was inspired to make cider at his family farm in Ryfylke. He pressed two batches, creating Sølvsideren. He entered it in the World Cider Awards, where it won an award in 2020 – marking the start of an exciting cider adventure.

The original plan was for cider-making to be a sideline, producing 2,000 litres a year, but Dan Olav has since abandoned that idea. Cider is now his main business, with annual production reaching 45,000 litres. Apal cider is now available at Vinmonopolet and duty-free shops across Norway, as well as from the farm's own shop.

In addition to growing fruit and producing cider, they have built a farm shop and an event venue, Apal-stova, where they serve their cider. Visitors can also take a guided tour of the orchards and the cidery itself. The farm, nestled deep in Ryfylke, now has state-of-the-art facilities and welcomed 3,500 visitors last year. Everyone who visits the farm is greeted with a broad smile and genuine enthusiasm from both Dan Olav and his father, Oddbjørn, who also helps run the farm.

The major investment in fruit growing and processing in Ryfylke in recent years has helped lay the foundations for this success story, and Dan Olav is playing a key role in developing this community further. He is active in the cider community in Western Norway and also works with other local food producers to showcase the best Rogaland has to offer.