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  • Randall Jessup posted an update in the group North Carolina 2 years, 9 months ago

    I plan to build a kitchen separate from my home for the purpose of making freeze dried candy to sell at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Greensboro, I live in Winston Salem. What equipment besides the freeze dryer will I need to include in this kitchen to pass an inspection for this candy making business. I assume I will need a sink and a countertop, the process of freeze drying candy does not require any baking or cooking outside of what occurs in the Freeze Dryer (FD) it is just using the FD as a vacuum oven.

    • Are you sure that you can’t do this from your home kitchen? I’d recommend you contact the ag dept to see if it’s something you can do from your home kitchen, as that would be much easier and less expensive. The requirements for commercial kitchens are usually pretty complex and can cost well over $10k. You would need to talk to either the ag or health dept for specific guidance on what is required for the commercial kitchen in your area.

      • I have a cat and no pets is enshrined in stone with them.

      • Got it. Is that something you heard directly from an inspector, or are you just going with what they’ve posted online? Sometimes inspectors can be more lenient about that. But if not, then I understand your desire to build the commercial kitchen. However, I still don’t know if it’s worth the risk in the beginning. If it were me, I’d probably do it from home for awhile to make sure the business idea is working. Maybe you’ve already done that though.