It could be Bluffton and Pandora’s oldest continually-operating enterprise
By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com
The Morning Star cider press is, well, as old as Bluffton and Pandora. Owned today by Suter Produce and located on Road R, Pandora, it is now open for the season.
We found a story from the Aug 8, 1957, Bluffton News, that shares some background on the business. That information follows:
In 1957, Seth Basinger, 81-year-old Pandora farmer, has been in the business 42 years.
Seth went into the cider business with his friend and partner, Sam Amstutz.
They operated the mill at first on the J.U. Amstutz farm, where Seth says cider had been pressed from apples of local orchards for nearly 100 years.
When Amstutz died in 1927, Basinger moved the Morning Star press to his farm and has operated it there ever since.
In 1957, his son, Clyde, handled most of the operation, but Seth still enjoys overseeing the work and inviting everyone he sees to “come over for a drink.”
At the time the Pandora man began process apples, the juice brought a grand price of two cents per gallon.
Seth recalls that when the price went to five cents people grumbled.
Click here for the rest of the story and a video.
https://www.blufftonforever.com/post/it-s-bluffton-and-pandora-s-oldest-...
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Friday, August 1, 2025
Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Bluffton University names Dr. J. Alexander Sider as next President
- GLP-1s and weight loss: Impact on muscles
- Check out August 2025 at Bluffton Public Library
- Discovery Days prize drawing results, check your tickets
- Wesley “Wes” Allen Leightner worked for Phillips
- How floundering Cards should deal at deadline
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
- Letter: BOHS work night at the Depot, July 30
- County park district considers name change, invites feedback
- Teen vaccine clinic at Bluffton Middle School, August 18
- State of Ohio expands commercial truck parking at US 30 rest areas
- National Night Out celebration is August 5
- Bluffton council hears neighbor concerns about proposed school practice field
- GROB Systems to host 5-AXIS LIVE! with 21 industry partners on Aug. 5