Hi there,

Usually, my last email of the year is a nostalgic one.

I typically think back on the year and wax poetic on all the great cottage food things that happened that year.

In other words, it's a recap. A trip down memory lane.

But not this time! (Don't worry -- I'll get to that recap in a couple of weeks.)

This week, I actually have NEW news to share.

This never happens, BTW. In the cottage food realm, there's never any remotely significant law change in the last week (or month) of the year.

But just to throw one last surprise into a year that's surprised me immensely (more on that in 2 weeks), this week, Wisconsin did it again.

And by "again", I mean that yes, they won yet another lawsuit!

And now, entrepreneurs in Wisconsin can sell ANY kind of nonperishable food (previously they could only sell nonperishable baked goods).

And now (finally), Wisconsin has a law (well, it's kind of a law, I guess) that's actually pretty great!

It's been a long road for Wisconsin, and once again, The Institute for Justice and Lisa Kivirist led the way.

It started almost 7 years ago, when they opted to file the first lawsuit to allow home bakers to sell their baked goods.

After winning the lawsuit, the ag department tried to claim that the lawsuit only allowed the three plaintiffs to sell home baked goods, so they had to go back to court to clarify.
Then the ag dept tried to impose a $5k sales limit on bakers, so they had to go back to court.
Then the ag dept tried to claim that the term "non-hazardous baked goods" was not sufficiently clear, so they had to go back to court.
Then the ag department tried to claim that the term "baked goods" only meant items containing flour, so they had to go back to court.

And finally, after a court battle that's lasted almost 2 years, Wisconsin now allows non-baked goods as well!

Wisconsin's path has been unique and crazy... that's for sure! They remain the only state that allows homemade food sales due to a court order.

And Lisa told me that given the current legislature, it's unlikely that an official cottage food law will be passed anytime soon. But I actually think that's now a good thing, as this court ruling is likely better than any law that might pass.

So congrats, Wisconsin, and thanks for ending 2022 on a high note!

And thank YOU for sticking with me, from one week to the next! I'm looking forward to even more progress in 2023, and as I mentioned, keep an eye out for a 2022 recap in a couple of weeks!

David