Prince George Farmers' Market Associaton vice president Yvonna Breed supports allowing sales of locally-crafted beer and wine at its venues - a possibility Premier Christy Clark raised this week.
"I think it's a great idea," Breed said Friday and added she knows at least two other directors are in favour.
"I personally know people who are interested in developing specialized products like that up here," Breed said. "If you think about it, we can make all kinds of fruit wine - I mean we can grow raspberries, strawberries, huckleberries, all sorts of things.
"So there could be farms that could actually be growing the products and maybe supplying a processor."
Speaking at a winery in her West Kelowna riding on Wednesday, Clark said she supports a dozen liquor law changes including permitting winemakers, craft brewers and specialty distillers to sell their products at farmers' markets and secondary-tasting rooms.
Breed said the possibility will likely be a topic at the PGMA's annual general meeting tentatively scheduled for late February or early March.
The B.C. Association of Farmers' Markets also supports the idea. President Jon Bell said details haven't been worked out, but he sees this is a way to attract more people to markets across the province.
While allowing secondary-tasting rooms would be a direct benefit to the fledgling Northern Lights Estate Winery, now under development on the north side of the Nechako River, operating partner Doug Bell expressed interest in sales at farmers markets.
"We'll certainly be doing everything we can to make sure that we bring our products to Prince George in every possible venue," Bell said Friday.
But he also stressed the proper restrictions need to be in place to prevent sales to minors and others who should not have access to alcohol.
The winery, which will produce a variety of fruit wines and blends, will be located a 4.2-acre parcel at 746 PG Pulpmill Rd. Slated to open in 2015, it's to be to home to a main winery building and restaurant at the highest point of property, an amphitheatre, and a small orchard.
Bell said over 2,000 plants are on order for deliver in May 2014 and the building will be under construction throughout the summer.
"We're very excited to see the progress throughout the summer and by fall we'll be making wine," Bell said.
Whether beer produced in the micro-brewery now up and running at Pacific Western Brewery would be allowed remains unclear but Breed welcomed the idea.
"I would like to see some of their organic beer there," Breed said.
A PWB representative could not be reached for comment Friday.
Clark watered down the idea of alcohol sales in grocery stores. She's aware British Columbians are supporters of the convenience of beer and wine sales in grocery stores, but the government has public safety concerns.
When it comes to selling beer and wine in grocery stores, the province must consider public convenience, safety and the promotion of B.C. products, she said.
Allowing alcohol sales at grocery stores is one of 70 recommendations in a report submitted last month to the provincial justice minister by John Yap, the parliamentary secretary tasked with the review of liquor laws.
Private liquor store operators say selling beer and wine in grocery stores threatens their livelihoods and poses the risk of alcohol sales to minors.
- with files from Canadian Press, Kamloops Daily News
