Bill to ease Oregon cider rules heads to House

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A bill that would ease Oregon’s land-use rules for cider businesses is moving ahead in the Legislature.

The Capital Press reports (http://bit.ly/2qeQ5f6 ) the proposed bill received unanimous approval from the Senate in March and will come before the House in early May.

The bill seeks to allow cider businesses to produce and sell their beverages, serve food and conduct other agri-tourism activities on-site.

Under the bill, cider businesses producing less than 100,000 gallons of cider a year would have to be within or next to an orchard of at least 653,400 square feet to qualify for the new rules.

Businesses that produce more than 100,000 gallons will have an orchard size requirement of 1,742,000 square feet.