New Law Would Allow Beer Sales at Farmers’ Markets

The Recorder, May 6th, 2016, by Tom Relihan

To get at the farmers market: fresh-baked bread, crisp apples, a jar of salsa and … a six-pack of beer?

If a new state agriculture bill is signed into law, that could be the next item on many a Franklin County resident’s farmers market shopping list.

The bill, which passed the Senate 36-1 Thursday, would allow beer to be sold at farmer’s markets across the state.

Bill Goldfarb, the brewmaster and owner of Lefty’s Brewing Co. in Greenfield, welcomes the change.

“It seems like a no-brainer, because the craft brewing industry has such a focus on local agriculture and ingredients,” he said. “We use hops from Four Star Farms in Northfield, coffee from Pierce Brothers and Esselon in Hadley, honey from Warm Colors Apiary in Deerfield and malt from Valley Malt in Hadley.”

Goldfarb said the ability to sell at farmers markets would give local brewers another chance to connect with the community and talk about the different ingredients that go into each batch and why they use them.

“With the craft brewing industry, we really enjoy that connection with the customer and that chance to tell them what we’re doing, because we’re proud of it,” he said.

Should the bill pass, he said he expects to set up shop at the Greenfield Farmers Market and other farmers markets in the region.

Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.

You can reach Tom Relihan at: trelihan@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 264
On Twitter, @RecorderTom