ALBANY – A standout item that was passed during the recently ended legislative session was the so-called farm distillery bill, which will allow farmers to make and sell distilled liquors from raw agricultural products.

The bill also allows small volume manufacture of distillates under the new license category when the small business manufacturer’s are utilizing primarily New York grown agricultural products.

The bill, which has not yet been signed by Gov. Spitzer, will allow New York farmers to take advantage of a fast growing trend in value added agriculture.

The law gives farmers an ability to have a Class D distiller’s license, which will entail tasting and selling privileges for an on farm distillery or a distiller utilizing primarily New York- grown ag products and manufacturing up to 35,000 gallons.

“NYFB has worked on this issue for three years now; ever since several apple farmers and grape growers supported the measure during a state annual meeting. After a veto for technical reasons from the former Governor Pataki, we’re extremely hopeful that this legislation, now technically correct, will be signed into law,” said Julie Suarez, the Director of Public Policy for Farm Bureau.

Several farms around the state will be lining up to start making the products, which include apple vodka, in time for the fall harvest and tourist seasons.

The bill is seen as having a direct impact upon rural economic development. It creates a whole new market for New York agricultural products, allows farmers to gain some additional profitability, and increases the attraction of farms as tourism destinations.

“People are funny at times, sometimes complaining about the price of a fresh apple in the grocery store, but yet take that same apple, use it to flavor vodka, and they will gladly pay $30 without blinking an eye,” said Suarez.

The license class encourages the rebirth of craft spirits production, an industry that was very nearly non-existent for over seventy years.

The legislation, which is similar to the farm winery bill that revolutionized the wine industry in New York, was sponsored by Senator Larkin and Assemblyman Magee.