Cider – What’s the difference between cider and apple juice?

In the United States, cider is the pressed juice of apples.  That juice may be filtered or unfiltered.  It may also be pasteurized or unpasteurized.  Almost all states require cider to be pasteurized if it is sold through wholesale channels (grocery stores, co-ops, etc).  Unpasteurized cider is typically available only when the end consumer purchases it directly from the orchardist or farmer.  Cider that is very lightly filtered can still be sold as cider, but cider that has been filtered to remove all the sediment is apple juice.