2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Good Morning!

On one hand, Oregon independent wines, spirits and beers have perhaps flourished because of the "protection" aspect -- local and artisanal producers seemingly have the opportunity to get their product out there without being crushed by "big" brands.

On the other hand, however, there are out-of-state independent and artisanal producers which are relegated into being "special order" items with OLCC (not-yet "listed") which actually keeps great products out of the hands the Oregon bars, restaurants and consumers. Both bartenders and consumers suffer here. Examples: Ocho Tequila (must be from Mexico in order to be called tequila), Novo Fogo Cachaca (organic, also must be from Brasil) and FAIR (the first line of Fair Trade spirits, made in Cognac from products purchased at fair trade prices from various independent farmers around the world)... now because of Denomination of Origin laws, these products MUST be made in certain areas. But when a tequila in CA is available for $41, but $71 in OR... again, it's the consumers and bartenders who suffer.

How can the OLCC allow small and artisanal brands in? They don't have the marketing dollars to come in and do all the legwork in order to sell to consumers and bartenders... Seems to go against what Oregon stands for.

Thanks so much!

posted 2 years, 5 months ago
view in context