Cuomo signs bill allowing licenses for New York farm cideries

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday signed the Farm Cideries bill that establishes a new license for farm cideries similar to the licenses already available to farm wineries, breweries, and distilleries.

The law will take effect in 90 days, the governor’s office said in a news release.

The state has already established licenses for farm producers of wine, spirits and beer, but not for cider.

The legislation follows through on promises made to farm cideries after Cuomo’s Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit held last October.

The event identified an “increased interest” in the production of hard cider in New York, his office said.

The Farm Cideries law authorizes the establishment and licensure of farm cideries for the manufacture and sale of cider made from crops grown in New York.

It excludes licensed farm cideries from the requirement to file a sales-tax information return, Cuomo’s office said.

In order to obtain a farm cidery license, a farm must produce its hard cider exclusively from apples grown in New York and may not produce more than 150,000 gallons annually.

The law permits farm cideries to offer tastings and to sell cider, beer, wine, and spirits made from New York products.

It also provides small-craft cider makers with additional opportunities to highlight and market their products, the governor’s office contends.

The law’s sponsors modeled its provisions on ones similar to the provisions in the law enacted for farm breweries in 2012.

The farm winery and farm-distillery licensing programs have been an “integral” part of promoting the industries in New York, the governor’s office said.

The state believes farm cideries will become “destination locations” that will promote tourism within their communities because, like farm wineries, they may also sell products such as mustards, sauces, jams, jellies, souvenirs, artwork, crafts and other gift items, Cuomo’s office said.

Plus, the need for apples in the manufacture of New York-labeled cider would create a sustained demand for products from the state’s farmers, according to the governor’s office.

Hard cider and apple wine producers in Central New York include Ashley Lynn Winery in Mexico, Beak & Skiff’s Apple Farm Winery in LaFayette, Behling’s Spookhill Farms in Adams Center, Giancarelli Brothers Winery, LLC near Weedsport, and Montezuma Winery in Seneca Falls, according to the website of New York Cider Country.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com