To the editor:

The Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Assn. is attempting to kill the small farm wineries of Kansas.

As you may know, the big liquor wholesalers in Kansas have a monopoly control over every bottle of wine that comes into the state. They continue to block direct shipping of wine to consumers because they want their 50 percent.

The only exception to their monopoly is the right that Kansas farm wineries like ours have to sell directly to Kansas retailers and restaurants. The wholesalers have introduced legislation (SB 370) to take that right away from us and drive us out of business.

The Kansas Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Assn. wants to end the ability of Kansas farm wineries to sell directly to Kansas restaurants and retail liquor stores. They also want to prohibit out-of-state wineries from selling directly to Kansas retail stores. The only organization that gains from this is the wholesaler, which takes a hefty profit.

If the wine and spirits wholesalers are successful, they will put the up-and-coming Kansas farm wineries out of business. Legislators need to begin doing what is best for Kansas agriculture, small business and the consumer. Kansas farm wineries should not be prohibited from being able to direct sell in the state of Kansas.

Daniel Ward,

Oskaloosa