Darian
Kathy Lieber joined the group California 10 years ago
Trephena posted an update in the group California 10 years ago
Can someone please advise..
Trephena posted an update in the group California 10 years ago
I have a nonprofit where we donate homemade meals. Do I need to follow the cottage food laws?
Trephena joined the group California 10 years ago
David replied to the topic Gluten free labeling and other label claims in the forum California 10 years, 1 month ago
I’m not sure if you need some sort of certification for gluten free labeling, though I do know that there are certain quantities that you need to stay under. By making this health claim, you need to place a nutrition facts panel on your label, which is an extra expense and process.
Labeling a product as organic can be very complicated and…[Read more]
David replied to the topic pancake mix in the forum California 10 years, 1 month ago
I really don’t know, as this is a sourcing issue that health depts in CA seem to be very particular about, especially since you’re sending an ag-based product across state lines into CA. If you followed the appropriate regulations to legally get your raw wheat it into CA (may not be possible), then your sons would have to check with the…[Read more]
Lorisa Robles joined the group California 10 years, 1 month ago
Maria joined the group California 10 years, 1 month ago
Honey certification – my husband is a beekeeper and we sell our honey to family and friends in jars and all but when we go to markets they tell us that we have to get our honey certified to be able to sell at stores. I’ve been trying to contact people but everyone seems to be unaware of the requirements they keep giving me different numbers or…[Read more]
Yes, you should be able to use the cottage food law and you would need to get a simple inspection to sell at stores. Contact your environmental health dept to learn about the process in your area to get a class B cottage food permit.
Is it home inspection? Or warehouse inspection? What is the inspection process ? I’m calling everyone and no one seems to know… They seem to pass the ball.
Your health dept should be inspecting the facilities where you are making your product. Usually this is your home kitchen and they may require that it be only your home kitchen. Technically, the law is written in such a way that requires all processing to take place in the home kitchen. The inspection is usually pretty easy… just try getting…[Read more]
It’s confusing because as I read restrictions or limitations it says you can’t be cooking or handling while doing any house duties or have children around etc that’s why we were planning on renting a small warehouse to extract the honey and put it in jars and store and all my kitchen wouldn’t be big enough for that? Please help
Once the home kitchen isn’t sufficient for your business’ needs, that’s the point where you would move beyond the cottage food laws and become a commercial food processor like most of the honey producers in the state. Usually you’d contact the health dept about that, but maybe the ag dept manages honey production.
Barbara replied to the topic Can buttercream have egg white? in the forum California 10 years, 2 months ago
I believe that if the egg whites are cooked to a certain temperature, it will pass the non-potentially hazardous test, but you should check with local health authorities to confirm that the recipe is acceptable.
Barbara replied to the topic Do I need to form an LLC? And nutritional labels in the forum California 10 years, 2 months ago
At least in San Diego and Orange County, you can use online calculators or laboratory testing for determining your nutritional value if you’d like to include a label. We’ve found there are easy to make/print nutritional labels at http://www.onlinelabels.com
Barbara replied to the topic Confusion over packaging rules in the forum California 10 years, 2 months ago
In San Diego, anything that the product may come into contact with should be food-safe (i.e. bags, but not the boxes containing them or external labels).
Barbara replied to the topic Let's pressure farmers market association to consider cottage food applicants in the forum California 10 years, 2 months ago
In San Diego, most markets welcome CFOs. We’ve recently encountered a manager who will not allow CFOs into any of her 3 markets. The reason given was that it would increase their insurance costs. We are currently exploring whether or not that’s true. Any info you have would be appreciated. We’ve been told that CERTIFIED farmer’s markets do not…[Read more]
Barbara posted an update in the group California 10 years, 2 months ago
We’ve recently discovered a Farmer’s Market manage who will not allow CFOs into any of their 3 markets. The reason given is that it would increase their insurance costs. This seems odd for several reasons, especially given the low-risk nature of permitted cottage foods. Has anyone else experienced similar discrimination or have any info on…[Read more]
I haven’t heard of that being a reason for not allowing them, though it seems reasonable that an insurance company would raise their rates. I’d say it’s a perceived problem, although it’s not backed up by any evidence or truth.
Most of the time, I think farmers markets don’t allow CFOs because they either want to focus on products produced by…[Read more]
Barbara joined the group California 10 years, 2 months ago
Fern Rose joined the group California 10 years, 2 months ago
Kathryn Thorpe joined the group California 10 years, 2 months ago
Felicia Nelson joined the group California 10 years, 3 months ago
David replied to the topic Using alcohol in baked goods in the forum California 10 years, 3 months ago
If you’re just using a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract in a cookie recipe, then you don’t need to worry about it. But if it’s a significant amount of alcohol, then you need to talk to your health dept to learn about what permits are necessary.
David replied to the topic Ice Pops in the forum California 10 years, 3 months ago
You won’t be able to use the cottage food law and make your ice pops at home. You should probably double check to make sure that that Berkeley business is actually legal. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial
David replied to the topic Buying/ trading homegrown/ backyard veggies to create Cottage Foods. in the forum California 10 years, 3 months ago
It should be true, but there are some counties with weird ordinances. You can check with your local ag dept, but usually you don’t need a license from them to sell produce. You may need a business license or something else from other depts in your county, though.
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No, full meals don’t fall under the cottage food law. There is an exemption for donating certain types of food, but I don’t think a nonprofit can donate meals unless they’re properly licensed and using a commercial kitchen. You should talk to your county’s health dept about this.
Thanks David!