Faced with forced relocation or possible closure within two years, Persephone Brewing Co. of Gibsons has been lobbying the B.C. government to make Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations for farm-based breweries the same as those for wineries in the province.
The change, which would also benefit distilleries, would enable producers on the ALR to buy grain from other B.C. farms, the same as wineries buy their grapes, in order to meet a 50 per cent “grown-here” requirement set out in the Agricultural Land Commission Act.
Persephone has enlisted the support of other brewers (at least one of them similarly threatened), grower associations, local government and the public, which see the change as a no-brainer.
John Gleeson – Coast Reporter – March 16, 2017.
Want More Investigative Content?
