when the 2012 census was released, growth leveled off, with 1,082 acres under cultivation in 2012. As of 2014, New Jersey currently has 48 licensed and operating wineries and several others in development. In 2012, 197 farms in the state were growing grapes to be sold as table grapes and converted into wine and juice production—this was up from 182 in 2002. Legal issues Winery licenses, taxation, and regulation Wineries in the state of New Jersey must obtain licenses from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey laws and regulation regarding farm wineries require that a farm cultivate a minimum 3 acres of vineyards. Wines, including fortified and sparkling wines, are taxed at 87.5 cents per gallon by the state. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has expressed concern that wines made here are increasingly less dependent on grapes grown in the state and that business models are focused on sourcing grapes or juices for winemaking from out-of-state. Their concerns are centered on the credibility and authenticity of a "New Jersey" wine. As a response, they have recommended expanding the number of acres of vineyard production from 3 acres to 5 acres in order to obtain a plenary winery license. Further, the state is looking to certify wineries and permit the marketing of certain wines under its "Jersey Fresh" agriculture program based on their being produced with New Jersey grown grapes. New Jersey law generally treats hard cider as a type of wine because it is made from fermented fruits. There are currently three licensed hard cider producers in New Jersey. Cider can be produced with a plenary or farm winery license, or with the cidery and meadery license introduced in 2017. Cider with less than 3.2% alcohol by volume is untaxed, cider with 3.2% to 7.0% alcohol is taxed at 15 cents per gallon, and cider with over 7.0% alcohol is taxed at 87.5 cents per gallon. New Jersey Class A manufacturer's licenses for wineries, cideries, and meaderies Direct shipping of wine to consumers See also Alcohol laws of New Jersey American wine Beer in New Jersey Garden State Wine Growers Association Judgment of Princeton List of American Viticultural Areas List of wineries, breweries, and distilleries in New Jersey New Jersey distilled spirits New Jersey Division of Alcoholic