Permits certain alcoholic beverage license holders to sell "Jersey Fresh" alcoholic beverages.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Andrea Katz and 1 co-sponsor

Expands Jersey Fresh to include NJ-made alcoholic beverages, letting eligible breweries, wineries, cidery/meaderies, and distilleries sell Jersey Fresh drinks retail and offer samp

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Summary of Bill A 4693 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

This bill expands the Jersey Fresh program to include alcoholic beverages produced in New Jersey. It allows certain license holders (breweries, wineries, cideries/meaderies, and distilleries) to sell Jersey Fresh-designated alcoholic beverages at retail to consumers for on-site or off-site consumption and to offer sampling.

Jersey Fresh products are defined as beverages composed of at least 51 percent agricultural or horticultural products grown in New Jersey.

The goal is to promote New Jersey agriculture by increasing consumer awareness and market access for state-made alcoholic beverages.

Key provisions and changes

Addition to license categories: The following license holders may sell Jersey Fresh beverages at retail and offer samples:

Limited Brewery License
Farm Brewery License
Plenary Winery License
Farm Winery License
Cidery and Meadery License
Craft Distillery License

Retail and sampling rights:

Eligible licensees may sell Jersey Fresh beverages at retail on or off the licensed premises.
Eligible licensees may offer sampling, subject to defined sampling limits:
For breweries and distilleries, sampling limits are defined per license type (e.g., up to four ounces for beer; up to specified amounts for cider/mead, wine, etc., as described in each license subsection).
Sampling is generally defined as the sale of a small quantity for a nominal charge or a gratuitous sample from the premises.

Definitions:

Jersey Fresh products: alcoholic beverages with at least 51% New Jersey-grown agricultural/horticultural content.
“Sampling” and “Product” definitions are aligned with the relevant license type, varying by beverage category (beer, wine, hard cider, mead, distilled products, etc.).

Licensing scope and limits:

The act preserves existing licensing structures and fees for each license category, and it leverages existing Jersey Fresh branding to encompass alcoholic beverages made from New Jersey farm products.
Certain provisions emphasize that sales to retailers, wholesalers, and out-of-state sales remain governed by current laws; shipments outside the state are still permitted where allowed by law.

Administrative and effective date:

The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
It references coordination with existing regulatory frameworks (e.g., sampling permits and related director approvals) and maintains the Director’s authority to regulate sampling and promotional activities.

Who would be affected

Small to mid-size alcohol producers in New Jersey holding:

Limited Brewery License
Farm Brewery License
Plenary Winery License
Farm Winery License
Cidery and Meadery License
Craft Distillery License

These producers would gain expanded retail and sampling capabilities specifically for Jersey Fresh-designated beverages.

Consumers would benefit from greater access to locally produced Jersey Fresh alcoholic beverages and an enhanced promotion of New Jersey farm products.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced March 16, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Immediate effective date upon enactment; administrative regulations would be guided by existing Division of ABC procedures and related statutes.

The bill’s framework relies on current licensing and sampling rules, with modifications to authorize Jersey Fresh retail sales and on-premises sampling for eligible licensees.