Mar 6, 2018 2 min read

A farmer in Rostraver Township wants to use part of her barn as a farmers market and retail outlet to sell moonshine and offer wine tastings.

Loretta Flower is seeking a conditional-use permit to set up shop at Mazzei Farm at Lenity School and Martin roads, township records show.

“It’s very exciting to carry it on,” said Flower, whose father last operated the farm. “I’d like to share it with people.”

While the Mazzei family once raised chickens and sold milk, Flower said the farm has transitioned to house horses and beef cattle and the growing of fruits and herbs, she stated in her application.

The barn on 13 acres of land dates to the 1800s, but the attached milk house would become the marketplace.

“It’s a beautiful barn,” Flower said.

She is seeking from the township a permit to operate the business under Rostraver’s agritourism ordinance that was adopted a year ago.

The business would offer educational classes, lectures, seminars and historical exhibits. Flower also plans to open a gift shop on the property, according to her application to the township.

The market also would sell unprocessed fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, as well as jelly, salsa, herb butter, ground beef, sausage, home decor items and jarred peppers and pickles.

Flower also applied to open a secondary retail location for Blackbird Distillery, a Brookville-based producer of handcrafted Pennsylvania moonshine. The consumption of wine, beer and liquor would be limited to tastings.

The township commissioners have scheduled a public hearing on Flower’s application at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the township building at 201 Municipal Drive.