Mass Farmers Market Needs Your Help
The Mass Farmers Markets need your help. They are asking for the local community to support their efforts in offering their customers the sale of local wines. Please take some time and read their press release below and help your local farmer as they put not only food on our tables but maybe wine soon.
Please call or write your State Senator;
Mass Farmers Markets has been quietly supporting the effort to pass legislation allowing the sale of wine from Massachusetts Farm wineries at farmers markets, when the local community supports that activity.
We believe shoppers will greatly benefit with the increased access to local farm products; that our local farm wineries will benefit; that farmers markets will benefit; and local liquor merchants will not be harmed and will likely also benefit. This is the kind of win-win needed for our support.
We ask, and need you to get involved today. Even if you do not support this bill, full and open communication with your legislators, verses behind the scenes lobbying and deal making, is needed to serve the public interest.
Please call or write your State Senator;
Ask them to contact Senator Karen Spilka, Committee on Economic Development, Chair, State House, Room 511C.
If you agree with Mass Farmers Markets, ask your State Senator to tell Senator Spilka of your support for Sections 140 to 146 of the House Economic Development Bill, H4863 and urge Senator Spilka to ensure the conference committee includes the language from sections 140 to 146 in the final conference committee report.
Explanation:
This amendment includes language from S.2261, An Act authorizing the issuance of licenses for the sale of wine at certain premises. It is what will allow a farm winegrower to obtain a license from a local licensing authority to sell wine at indoor or outdoor agricultural events such as fairs or recognized farmer's markets. It is the language that was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Environment Natural Resources and Agriculture and was redrafted to address all concerns raised through the committee process.
Also, please call or write your Sate Representative and let them know how you feel. This way when the final votes come they hopefully correctly represent the majority public sentiment as well.
Regards,
Mass Farmers Markets