Peter Mitchell - Curriculum Vita

Work and Employment

Current position: Owner and Manager of Mitchell F&D Limited - a business that operates a specialist and unique service for and within the Cider Industry.

• The Cider Academy provides training and consultancy/advice to current members of the Industry and for new business ventures.
• Taste & Explore offers a range of activities and services for corporate clients and the general public linked to the discovery, exploration, experience and appreciation of cider and perry.
• Out of the Orchard: Peter also manages his own small-scale demonstration commercial production facility based at The Orchard Centre, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, UK, incorporating fruit processing fermentation, downstream processing and packaging facilities. A range of fruit-based products are made for sale - jointly branded under ’Out of the Orchard’ - including fresh-pressed juice drinks, cider, perry, fruit wines and vinegars.

Past roles:

• Head of Core Food & Drink - A Centre of Excellence for the Cider, Food & Drink Industry. Based at Pershore Group of Colleges, Worcestershire, England.
• Head of The Hindlip Centre for Cider, Food & Drink Industries. Based at Hindlip, Worcestershire, England.
• Head of Cider Production and Food Technology, Worcestershire College of Agriculture, Worcester, England.

Qualifications

• MSc. (Distinction) Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology (Food) - Wolverhampton University, England. Research thesis: Malo-lactic Fermentation in Cider. Research dissertation: Hydrogen Sulphide Production in Cider & Perry and its Control
• BSc. (Hons) Physiology and Biochemistry - Reading University, England
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (Distinction) Further Education; Science - Wolverhampton Polytechnic

Cider Making and Technical Experience

Commenced cider making in 1982.

• Founder, part owner and manager of Hindlip Cider from 1993 - Commercial production and packaging of ciders and perries.
• Founder and manager of Avonbank Ciders & Perries from 2000 to 2002  – based at Core Food & Drink, Pershore, England
• Lecturer in Cider Production. Includes development & management of web-based Internet ’learning tools’
• Cider Industry consultant: UK, Europe, USA, Canada, China
• Clients have included: Bulmers’ Gaymer Cider Company, Diageo, Aspall Cyder, Thatcher’s Cider Company, Henney’s Cider Company,
  H Weston & Sons Ltd, R J Sheppy & Son plus a number of business start-up and small/medium scale cider & perry companies based in the UK, USA, Canada, Asia and eastern Europe.
• Research: Malo-lactic fermentation; characteristics, effects and control of Saccharomycodes ludwigii; pasteurisation of cider; cross-flow filtration of cider; yeast selection for cider making; general production methods; mechanisms of support for small & medium scale producers.
• Author: "Out of the Orchard - into the glass". The official textbook for the NACM’s Foundation Certificate in Cider & Perry Appreciation. 2010. NACM & Mitchell F&D Limited. ISBN 0-9551033-0-4. "Cider Making Technology". 2004. China Light Industry Press. ISBN 7-5019-4268-4/TS.2524. "Malo-Lactic Fermentation in Cider Production: The Application of Selected Lactic Acid Bacteria Starter Cultures to Induce and Carry Out a Malo-Lactic Fermentation in Cider". 1996. MSc. Thesis, University of Wolverhampton.
• Competitions and Awards: Overall Champion - Hereford Cider Museum International Cider Competition, 1998 and 2011.
  CAMRA Pomona Award, 1998.
  Numerous 1st prize/Gold and Silver awards in UK national & international cider competitions from 1996 to 2011

Other Relevant Work & Activities

• Lead developer and founder-chairman of the Three Counties Cider & Perry Association, England. Currently, Chairman and Technical Representative.
• Member of the National Association of Cider Makers’ (NACM) Executive Committee.
• Led development for the Guild of Craft Cider Makers Quality Mark scheme
• Involved in political lobbying for the Cider Industry at regional and national level in the UK
• Member of NACM’s Training Group and led development of the NACM Foundation Certificate in Cider & Perry Appreciation
• A lead developer & founder member of the Slow Food Three Counties Perry Presidium.
• Nationally (UK) and internationally recognised "Industry Champion"
• Through Taste & Explore, has operated a range of cider tours, short courses and workshops, tutored tastings and other events for the general public and corporate clients.