Ontario’s biggest alcohol retailer says demand for Ontario-made products is still growing thanks to ongoing ‘buy local’ sentiment.

According to new data from the

Liquor Control Board of Ontario

(LCBO), overall sales for Ontario-made products were up 23 per cent between February and September, compared to the same period last year.

“We have incredible producers here in Ontario, and we have more local products than ever in store and online in response to customer demand,” LCBO chief executive George Soleas said in a press release. “I hope customers discover new local favourites and feel good about supporting our local industry.”

Ontario VQA wines, or wines made from 100 per cent Ontario-grown grapes, are leading the growth with a 67 per cent increase in sales, outpacing other Ontario product categories, it said.

Demand for VQA red wine was notably strong, with sales up 80 per cent. Sales of international-domestic blends of Ontario-made wine had modest growth of five per cent.

Ontario craft beer had an 8.4 per cent boost in sales, while Ontario-made spirits were up 4.5 per cent. Ontario craft cider is also experiencing positive growth both in LCBO stores and online, the LCBO said.

Canadian products from other provinces are also benefitting from the ‘buy local’ trend. Wines produced in British Columbia had a 55 per cent increase in sales. Nova Scotia wines are up 30 per cent, while Alberta-made spirits are up 13 per cent.

Ontario Craft Wineries chief executive Michelle Wasylyshen said the “

Buy Canadian

” movement has given Ontario VQA wine producers an opportunity to get their products into the hands of new consumers, who are “tuning in like never before.”

“Our soaring sales show that (customers) are falling in love with us,” Wasylyshen said.

The LCBO said it is committed to supporting local products and producers year-round and connecting Ontarians to products from their own backyard.

The provincial booze retailer has

kept American alcohol off its shelves

since earlier this year when it stopped stocking and selling some or all United States-produced alcohol until the U.S. removes its

tariffs

on Canadian goods.

Liquor authorities in other provinces, such as British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, made similar announcements at the time. Alberta and Saskatchewan have since put U.S. spirits back on their shelves.

The LCBO is one of the world’s biggest alcohol purchasers. It sold more than 3,600 products from 35 U.S. states before announcing in March that it would halt the purchase and sale of American products in response to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President

Donald Trump

.

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• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com