GREENFIELD — To get at the farmers market: fresh-baked bread, crisp apples, a jar of salsa and … a six-pack of beer?
If a new state agriculture bill is signed into law, that could be the next item on many a local resident’s farmers market shopping list.
The bill, which passed the Senate 36-1 on Thursday, would allow beer to be sold at farmers markets across the state.
Bill Goldfarb, the brewmaster and owner of Lefty’s Brewing Co. in Greenfield, welcomes the change.
“It seems like a no-brainer, because the craft brewing industry has such a focus on local agriculture and ingredients,” he said. “We use hops from Four Star Farms in Northfield, coffee from Pierce Brothers and Esselon in Hadley, honey from Warm Colors Apiary in Deerfield and malt from Valley Malt in Hadley.”
Goldfarb said the ability to sell at farmers markets would give local brewers another chance to connect with the community and talk about the different ingredients that go into each batch and why they use them.
“With the craft brewing industry, we really enjoy that connection with the customer and that chance to tell them what we’re doing, because we’re proud of it,” he said.
Should the bill pass, he said he expects to set up shop at the Greenfield Farmers Market and others in the region.