Tracy Mason

Vinegars probably aren’t allowed, but I’m not 100% sure, so you should contact the ag dept.

Elizabeth, thanks for letting us know. I’ll update the page by the end of the weekend.

The only legal way to sell homemade food online is to build a commercial kitchen in your home, have the health dept approve and inspect it, and use that to start your commercial food business. I’d highly recommend finding an already existing commercial kitchen instead. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial

1. No, but you need the landlord’s permission.
2. Yes
3. Usually basic stuff, like cleanliness, proper hot water and fridge temps, plus making sure you know how to sanitize things. It will probably be easier than you’re expecting.

Yes, there should be an exemption that you can use. http://forrager.com/faq/#nonprofit

No, that’s not allowed and you will need to produce it in a commercial kitchen. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial

1. You can advertise any way you want, but I don’t think you can sell from home or offer delivery. If you are posting photos on Instagram and selling at a farmers market, that would be fine.
2. The other option would be to use a commercial kitchen, get a license from the health dept, and run your business with any method you’d like.
3. Cinnamon…[Read more]

Deb, yes you can sell your cakes and yes, you need to register with the ag dept, and there are a number of other requirements, which you can read through on this page: http://forrager.com/law/minnesota/

If you want to use cream cheese frosting, then you can’t run your business from home. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial

I do not believe you can sell homemade items in NY if you aren’t a NY resident. You probably need to use a commercial kitchen with the appropriate license to start your business. You should talk to the farmers market in NYC to see what they require.

Sorry, I’m not sure, but I know that it wouldn’t fall under the cottage food law. You should contact the health dept for more info.

Kathleen, it depends on your state, but if the state only allows direct sales, the likelihood is that you cannot offer CFO products. CFOs are often explicitly not food facilities, and food facilities cannot offer their products for sale. I don’t think your would be considered a public event unless the market happens at a specific location.…[Read more]

I’m pretty sure you need to use a commercial kitchen to produce your products, and you should contact the health dept about how to get licensed. http://forrager.com/faq/#commercial

I think that using a convection oven (but not a microwave) to bake would be fine. Items that are not baked, like fudge, no bake cookies, and no bake candy, would not be allowed.