Wine in grocery stores wins state Farm Bureau’s support

The state Farm Bureau, holding its annual meeting this week in Rochester, voted unanimously to support a legislative proposal that would allow wine to be sold in grocery stores.

Farm Bureau President Dean Norton of Batavia said the organization was gratified to hear from a Wegmans Food Markets executive that the chain would promote New York wines – just as it does locally grown produce – if it could sell wine in its stores.

“That was pretty significant,” Norton said today as the meeting wrapped up at the Riverside Convention Center.

The legislative bill, co-authored by Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, also would offer incentives to liquor stores, such as installation of ATMs and the ability to sell snacks and gift baskets, to ease the sting of competition for wine sales.

The bill didn’t make it out of committee last year and still is active, but a Morelle staffer said it still faces stiff opposition from liquor stores.