David Crabill
@david
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Just to clarify, you are using them to source your ingredients? I assume that is less expensive than stores?
I’m not sure if that is allowed under the cottage food law. The law recently changed to give health depts the ability to allow other types of nonperishable foods, so I recommend that you ask your health dept. If you want to pop the popcorn at the market, you wouldn’t be able to use the cottage food law.
I just checked out CFR 21 again, and although that is usually pretty confusing to me, it does look pretty clear that a blackberry jam needs a 47/55 ratio. Also, this seems correct to me… jams and jellies typically need more sugar than fruit.
In the case of the CFO jams you’ve seen in the market, that’s likely a mistake by the producer. In the case of commercial products, companies will often use two different types of sugar to allow them to put the fruit first in the ingredient list. This Smucker’s jam is an example.
However, commercial food processors can sell low-sugar jam, which needs to be lab-tested and adhere to strict processing controls. To sell low-sugar jam, you can’t use the cottage food law.
I’m sure it will depend on your state laws and what the health or ag dept in your area decides. I doubt that you can do this with a cottage food law, but perhaps some states would allow it.
Yes, you need to get a license and find a commercial kitchen to use. Most importantly, you need to talk to your health dept about all the steps required in starting the business. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial
It would not be legal. Aside from the fact that your box sale likely wouldn’t sell well without the cookies (the box is not really what you’re selling), typically food laws place the same requirements on publicly-available foods, regardless of whether there is a charge for them or not.
Yes, you would need a permit. I believe it would be the same permit that you’d need if you were actually making the cookies and bread.
Your best bet is to call the dept that manages zoning, and they will tell you exactly what you need. It’s common for areas to require special use permits like this, and yes, they can be complicated and expensive. I don’t think there’s any legal way to avoid it, if you need it.
Yes, that is considered a cottage food, and no, you can’t sell it on Etsy unless you are using a commercial kitchen. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial
As long as all of the proceeds go to the nonprofit, usually there is an exemption that you can use: http://forrager.com/faq/#nonprofit
