PORT ANGELES — Farmers markets organizers on the North Olympic Peninsula are raising their glasses to toast a bill in Olympia that would allow vendors to offer beer and wine tasting.
The state legislation, Senate Bill 5029, would allow vendors at 10 farmers markets to provide small samples of the alcoholic beverages as part of a 14-month pilot project.
The bill doesn’t include a list of markets that would be part of the pilot project.
The directors of the year-round Port Angeles market and the seasonal Jefferson County Farmers Market said they would both seek to participate if the legislation is adopted.
Win-win situation
They said the change would be a win-win for markets and their beer and wine vendors.
“It’s hard for them to sell the product without doing little bits of tasting,” said Will O’Donnell, director of the Jefferson County Farmers Market, which includes the Wednesday and Saturday markets in Port Townsend and the Sunday market in Chimacum, all of which are closed for the season now.
“It’s essential to helping their business survive,” O’Donnell said. “And it’s an added attraction at the market.”
Said Cynthia Warne, Port Angeles Farmers Market manager: “It [selling beer and wine] doesn’t work if you can’t give people samples.”
Kathy Charlton, Olympic Cellars owner, agreed.
Hasn’t been worth it
Charlton said she has tried selling wine at the Port Angeles market and the Sequim Open Aire Market, but neither garnered enough sales to make it worth doing.
“I definitely would be there, and I know others would be there,” she said.
Sequim market Manager Lisa Bridge couldn’t be reached for comment.
Warne and O’Donnell said they don’t think the sampling of the beverages will cause a problem.
Under the legislation, only one winery or microbrewery per day would be allowed to offer samples. Samples also must be less than 2 ounces.
Each customer would be limited to 4 ounces per day.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
