New York state has formed the first-ever
\nNY Craft Brewer Workgroup, which will put
\nforth recommendations on ways to continue
\nspurring the rapid expansion of the state’s
\ncraft beer sector.<\/p>\n
The work group, which is a direct result
\nof the second Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider
\nSummit, will consist of representatives from
\nthe craft beverage industry, higher education
\nand research institutions, the agricultural
\nsector and state government.<\/p>\n
“New York’s craft beer industry has seen
\ntremendous growth in the past four years
\n– and we plan to keep the momentum going,”
\nGov. Andrew Cuomo said.
\n“By bringing
\ntogether leaders from industry, academia and
\nthe public sector, we can make sure that the
\nEmpire State becomes an even better place
\nto brew and promote world-class beverages.
\nThat’s what I’ve charged this work group with
\ndoing, and I am confident that they will play a
\nlarge role in continuing to cultivate a vibrant
\nenvironment for the craft beer industry.”<\/p>\n
The group will help coordinate and improve
\ncommunication between all segments
\nof the craft brew industry and state government.
\nMembers will also work together to
\nidentify emerging needs, including research
\non new varieties of hops and barley, production
\nmethods and consumer trends; as well
\nas making sure that the state has the infrastructure
\nin place for this growing industry,
\nsaid the governor.<\/p>\n
The work group will also continue where
\nthe summit left off by reviewing areas of
\npotential regulatory reform and guiding the
\ncontinued development of Empire State Development’s
\nOne Stop Shop, which is designed
\nto provide New York’s beverage producers
\nwith a single point of government contact for
\nassistance regarding regulations, licensing,
\nstate incentives, and any other questions or
\nissues facing the industry, officials said.<\/p>\n
Members will assist in the development
\nand\/or direction of promotional and marketing
\nprograms such as Taste NY, Pride of New
\nYork and Trails to promote New York agriculture,
\nwhile exploring grant opportunities
\npotentially beneficial to the industry.<\/p>\n
Members of the group, which will be led by
\nthe Commissioner of the State Department of
\nAgriculture and Markets, include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Gary C. Bergstrom, Ph.D., professor,
\nDepartment of Plant Pathology and Plant-
\nMicrobe Biology at Cornell University<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jimmy Carbone, host, Beer Sessions
\nRadio<\/p>\n
\u2022 Larry Fisher, president, Northeast Hop
\nAlliance<\/p>\n
\u2022 Steve Hindy, co-founder, Brooklyn
\nBrewery<\/p>\n
\u2022 David Katleski, founder of Empire Brewing
\nCompany and president of the NYS Brewers
\nAssociation<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul Leone, executive director, NYS
\nBrewers Association<\/p>\n
\u2022 Natalie Mattrazzo, co-owner, the Farm-
\nHouse Brewery<\/p>\n
\u2022 Steven Miller, Cornell hop specialist<\/p>\n
\u2022 June Russell, manager of farm inspections
\nand strategic development at Greenmarket,
\nGrowNYC<\/p>\n
\u2022 Gregg Stacy, vice president, director of
\nmarketing and sales at Brown’s Brewing Co.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bill Verbeten, regional extension agronomist,
\nCornell Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\u2022 Justin Whipple, owner of Whipple Brothers
\nFarms<\/p>\n
Representatives from the State Liquor
\nAuthority and Empire State Development
\nwill also participate.<\/p>\n
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard
\nA. Ball said, the “farm-based beverage summits
\nlaid the groundwork for unprecedented
\ngrowth within the industry, and this workgroup
\nwill take this one step further. Gov.
\nCuomo has brought together some of the
\nbest and brightest minds within the industry
\nto examine challenges and develop working
\nsolutions. It’s an exciting time to be part of
\nNew York agriculture and the boom in the
\ncraft brewing industry is a major reason why.”<\/p>\n
State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis
\nRosen said, “New York craft producers have
\nexperienced an explosion of growth as the
\nstate has partnered with industry to create
\nnew craft manufacturing licenses, overhaul
\nantiquated laws, and modernize regulations.
\nThis work group will enhance this partnership,
\nas we work together to further expand
\nopportunities for our farm-based entrepreneurs
\nto continue generating jobs and environmentally
\nfriendly economic development
\nin communities across the state.”<\/p>\n
Empire State Development President, CEO
\n& Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “The
\ntremendous growth in the beverage industry
\nis a direct result of the sector’s key players
\nworking together with the state to address
\npotential obstacles.”<\/p>\n
In July 2012, Cuomo signed legislation
\ncreating a farm brewery license to promote
\nthe use of local ingredients in craft beers.
\nSince that law took effect in January 2013,
\n48 new farm breweries have opened up across
\nthe state. Like farm wineries, farm breweries
\ncraft “New York” beer with specific levels of
\nlocally grown ingredients, gradually increasing
\nfrom 20 percent to 90 percent by 2024.<\/p>\n
Farm breweries enjoy similar privileges to
\nfarm wineries, including the ability to operate
\nup to five offsite retail outlets, open
\nrestaurants, conduct tastings and sell related
\nproducts that may include souvenirs, food
\nto complement beer tastings and equipment
\nand supplies.<\/p>\n
State officials said New York microbreweries
\ncontinue to experience unprecedented
\ngrowth. The Empire State is now home to
\n100 microbreweries, a 150 percent increase
\nfrom 2011. Additionally, the number of
\nrestaurant brewers has increased from 10
\nin 2011 to 26 today, which amounts to a 160
\npercent increase.<\/p>\n
Currently there are approximately 225 acres
\nof hops planted in New York State, of which 150
\nacres will be harvested this year–amounting
\nto over 100,000 pounds of hops.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New York state has formed the first-ever NY Craft Brewer Workgroup, which will put forth recommendations on ways to continue spurring the rapid expansion of the state’s craft beer sector. The work group, which is a direct result of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[66,118],"yoast_head":"\r\n