Image: Beer Scout
As reported by BIV, City of Vancouver recently announced that it will roll out a one-season pilot program to allow the sale of craft liquor at Vancouver Farmers Markets including Kitsilano Farmers Market starting this summer. The program is effective immediately. The Vancouver Farmers Market has a long list of potential vendors ready to offer mini-tastes of beer, sake or wine at summer markets.
The provincial regulations allow for samples of craft beer, wine and spirits to be consumed at a farmers’ market booth. Vendors can also sell closed bottles.
“Vista D’oro Winery, Odd Society Spirits, R&B Brewing, Artisan SakeMaker, Fort Wine Company, Backyard Vineyards, Bomber Brewing, Tree Brewing,” Roberta LaQuaglia, operations manager for Vancouver Farmers Markets, told Business in Vancouver.
LaQuaglia said that the smaller markets with space for extra vendors (Kerrisdale, Yaletown and Mount Pleasant) will probably be the first places customers could taste and buy craft liquor products.
The city’s pilot program operates under these rules:
- craft liquor vendors are limited to a maximum of three per market
- the markets must make all reasonable efforts to minimize neighbourhood impacts
- the markets remain within their currently-permitted market size and vendor allowance
- continue to obtain a farmers’ market business license
- promote a diversity of craft liquor vendors at the market (e.g. not the same vendor for the whole season)
- report back to the City on neighbourhood feedback
- and adhere to all other bylaw requirements for farmers’ markets.
Last modified: July 17, 2014
