Hi there,

This week's podcast episode is a bit different than the rest!

As you probably know by now, this has been a landmark year for the cottage food industry, with 17 states improving their cottage food laws.

Given that, I thought it was about time to have Shelley Erickson on the show!

Fun fact: Shelley was actually going to be one of my very first podcast guests, but then I learned that she rarely sells baked goods with her cottage food business.

You know why? It's because Shelley spends all her time helping other cottage food businesses!

She's the one behind-the-scenes, answering questions, campaigning for new or improved laws, hosting conferences, and running the only state-specific cottage food association in the country.*

Few people have been as consistently active in supporting the cottage food movement over the past decade as she has.

Truth is, most people in Shelley's situation would have given up a looooong time ago.

The main culprit is Minnesota's ag department, which seems to have some kind of strange vendetta against cottage food producers. They have been (and continue to be) a major thorn in the side of Shelley's tireless efforts.

She helped create MN's first cottage food law 6 years ago, and she started a bill this year that successfully amended MN's law.

And you won't believe this story: Shelley shares the first (and only) documented case accusing a cottage food producer for (allegedly) causing a foodborne illness.

Listen in at the 8-minute mark and let me know what you think! Do you think she caused the illness? Do you think I should count that as a legitimate case against a cottage food producer?

One thing is for certain: Shelley is a leader in our movement, and Minnesota would not be where it is today without her support!

Listen to Episode 45: If You Don't Like The Law, Change It with Shelley Erickson


Until next week,
David

* As of a couple weeks ago, Minnesota's cottage food association is no longer the only one in the country. Kelley Masters, the leader of Texas' cottage food movement, just started their own association as well.
Also, Shelley's association was not the first one started, though it has been the most successful, by far. In 2015, Rich Gould started the CFOAA (Cottage Food Operator's Association of America), and I actually partnered with him on that effort in a small way. Rich gave it a good try, but ultimately couldn't get enough people across the country to join. In hindsight, he probably should have first just focused on his own state, Colorado.