Late last week the Ontario government announced that they are officially allowing farmers’ markets to sell local craft beer.
“Supporting local business has never been more important and our government is making it convenient for consumers to pair up eligible Ontario craft beer, wine, cider, and spirits with all the fresh and delicious food found at farmers’ markets,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in a press release.
This past spring and summer, local breweries were able to obtain a licence to sell their products at local farmers’ markets in an effort to make up for lost revenue during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Kaylea McCarron, the general manager of Couchiching Craft Brewing Co., says continuing to sell craft beer at local farmers’ markets will be a great opportunity for the local brewery to keep growing its brand.
“This past summer we were actually at a few markets, The Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market, The Orillia Farmers’ Market, and the Innisfil Farmer’s Market. Overall, it helped us build a little more of a consistent customer base,” she said.
“Being able to attend farmers’ markets outside of Orillia where we aren’t as well known will help the brand get picked up. It brought a lot of value to the brewery when our taproom was shut down in the spring.”
McCarron says Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. will continue to attend local farmers’ markets next summer and is looking at expanding to the Oro-Medonte Famers’ Market in 2022.
“We will switch it up a bit as we continue to grow the brand outside of the city here. Having the ability to jump into some markets regionally is going to help business pick up,” she said.
The Orillia Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market is also poised to benefit from keeping craft breweries at the market. Market manager, Sophia Siachos, says it’s a win-win situation.
“It helps promote our local craft breweries and local businesses, so I am so happy to hear that they can keep coming to the market,” she said.
Siachos believes having craft breweries at the market will bring more people to ODAS Park each weekend.
“It going to bring a different variety, a different crowd, and more options for all kinds of people,” she said.
“I feel that our market has such an original style vibe that caters toward different kinds of people and families, so craft breweries definitely fit with our market.”
Having Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. at the market this past summer went "really well," Siachos says.
“Our customers loved having them there, they would relate their location to the market, it was a pretty cool experience for everybody involved,” she said.
