Kuster Touts Bill to Cut Taxes on Small Cider Producers during Visit to Poverty Lane Orchard & Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon

Press Release

Today Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited Poverty Lane Orchard & Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon to discuss her support for the Cider Industry Deserves Equal Regulation (CIDER) Act and hear about other ways Congress can best support job creation and economic growth in the Upper Valley. The CIDER Act would benefit smaller cider producers like Farnum Hill by clarifying the application of the federal excise tax on hard cider.

"My top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families," said Congresswoman Kuster. "That's what the CIDER Act is all about. This bill would cut the federal excise tax on small cider producers like Farnum Hill, helping grow their businesses and create more, middle class jobs in the Granite State. I appreciate the staff at Farnum Hill bringing this critical issue to my attention earlier this year and look forward to continuing to work on behalf of rural small businesses around New Hampshire."

Under current federal tax law, the definition of hard cider only allows for up to 7% alcohol by volume before it is taxed at the more expensive rate for wine, and only a certain level of carbonation before it is subject to the even more expensive champagne tax. The CIDER Act would increase the allowable carbonation levels for hard cider and better align the allowable alcohol content with the realities of production, in order to account for the natural variables in production.

"We were delighted to have the opportunity to show Congresswoman Kuster our apple orchard and cider making operation, and to discuss the CIDER Act, which she has supported in Congress," said Louisa Spencer and Steve Wood, co-owners of Poverty Lane Orchard and Farnum Hill Ciders. "The CIDER Act will help small businesses and the agricultural community in New Hampshire and all across the United States."

A member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families. She has supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements. In August, Congresswoman Kuster convened a roundtable discussion on rural jobs with New Hampshire leaders in agriculture, forestry, and rural-based businesses.

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