Hi there!

This is David Crabill from Forrager. First off, I just wanted to thank you for being part of this cottage food community!

If you haven't heard from me before, I'd like to apologize for that. Up until now, I've done a poor job of communicating clearly and consistently with you and the other 1,500 members of this community, and I don't have a good excuse for that. It's one of those things that's been on my todo list for a long time... maybe you can relate. :)

But starting today, that is going to change. You will start hearing from me more, not only about Forrager, but also regarding changes to the cottage food industry as a whole.

This is a pivotal time for the cottage food industry. The fledgling laws that few noticed a decade ago are now garnering national attention.

The very definition of cottage food is changing. "Cottage food" used to be synonymous with "safe" food, like baked goods. But today, some states are already allowing almost any type of homemade food to be sold, and more states are pushing for that level of freedom as well.

People around the nation now have more opportunity than ever to turn their homemade hobby into a real business, but lawmakers and health officials also want to ensure that these businesses stay safe and professional.

When I started out in this industry, I merely wanted to sell my chocolate chip cookies. Through researching cottage food laws over the past four years, and now having answered over 4,000 questions on Forrager, I often notice tips and trends that I will be sharing with you on a more consistent basis. If you'd rather not stay updated, you can always use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email (unsubscribing will not delete your Forrager account).

Thanks again for joining me on this journey! I don't know where the cottage food movement will take us a decade from now, but if the last decade is any indication, things look very promising.

Keep cooking!

David