House Bill No. 5361 seeks to amend the regulations governing farm winery permits in Connecticut by adjusting the minimum average crop requirement for wine production. The bill reduces the percentage of fruit that farm wineries must grow from twenty-five percent to twenty percent. It clarifies that the average crop is determined by the two largest annual crops over the past five years, with specific provisions for the first seven years of operation, where the average crop is set at three tons of grapes per vineyard acre farmed. Additionally, the bill allows farm wineries to certify significant crop losses to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, enabling them to meet the average crop requirement under certain circumstances. The legislation also outlines operational permissions for farm wineries, including the sale and shipment of wine to consumers, offering tastings, and selling at farmers' markets. It mandates that shipping labels indicate the requirement for an adult signature upon delivery and establishes tax obligations for consumer sales. Furthermore, farm wineries are permitted to sell their products at up to three additional retail outlets located on land used for growing fruit and producing beverages. The annual fee for a farm winery permit is set at three hundred dollars, and the changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025. The bill has been favorably reported by the General Law Committee with a unanimous vote of 22-0 and is expected to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.