Would you like some wine with your farmer’s market?
Thanks to two nearly identical bills, you might be able to embrace your inner wino while shopping for locally grown butternut squash at the farmer’s market. Sen. Gayle Manning (R) and her son, Rep. Nathan Manning (R), both introduced bills that would allow Ohio wine makers to sell bottles and give out 2oz samples at the over 260 farmer’s markets in the state.
Right now, if wine makers/sellers want to sell at an Ohio farmer’s market, they have to obtain a permit from the Ohio division of liquor control. There’s also some pretty tight restrictions on the number of wineries that can be at a farmer’s market, and how often they can sell wine.
The new bill(s) would make that easier. There would be a new permit ($100/yr) that wine sellers could apply for, and to qualify for the permit, wine makers need to verify that at least 51% of the fruit in the wine is from Ohio. Both bills are in committee right now, and if passed, could go into effect by mid-to-late summer. Just in time for me to pick up some strawberry preserves and artisanal cheeses. (deb)
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