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North Country Sen. Ritchie’s bill allowing farm breweries and wineries to sell each other’s products has been signed into law

Posted 9/19/16

Sen. Patricia Ritchie’s legislation to boost the state’s craft beverage and agriculture industries has been signed by the governor. Ritchie said the bill will make it easier for farm breweries …

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North Country Sen. Ritchie’s bill allowing farm breweries and wineries to sell each other’s products has been signed into law

Posted

Sen. Patricia Ritchie’s legislation to boost the state’s craft beverage and agriculture industries has been signed by the governor.

Ritchie said the bill will make it easier for farm breweries and farm wineries to sell each other’s products, and beverages made by other producers.

Under the new law farm breweries will now be permitted to sell wine and spirits, and beer and cider will be able to be sold at farm wineries. Previously, the law allowed farm breweries to sell beer or cider, but did not allow them to sell wine or spirits. Similarly, the law allowed farm wineries to sell wine or spirits, but not sell beer or cider.

“In every corner of our state, the work done by craft beverage producers is encouraging consumers to ‘buy local,’ boosting our economy, strengthening our agriculture industry and creating jobs,” said Ritchie, who serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This new law, which I was proud to sponsor, will cut red tape and in turn, allow business owners to expand their markets, as well as encourage the continued growth of New York’s already booming craft beverage and agriculture industries.”

Ritchie says New York’s wine and grape industry generates more than $4.8 billion annually for New York State, and includes nearly 1,700 family vineyards, as well as more than 400 wineries—up from just 14 wineries in New York State in 1976.

She says there’s been growth when it comes to distilleries too, with the number of farm distilleries increasing by more than 25 percent in the past year.

She says there are more than 50 operating cideries in New York State, including 16 farm cideries, 19 cider producers and 16 farm wineries that also make cider.