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Montana SB 199

The Montana Local Food Choice Act, which allows direct intrastate sales of any homemade food that doesn’t contain meat

New York – S 5951

Would have created a new law to allow “home kitchen operations” (AKA micro-restaurants) to sell ready-to-eat meals and food. Reintroduced in 2022 and 2023 (under S 1057).

Go Big AND Go Home with Debbie George

Debbie George of Gilbert, AZ shares how she sold over 10,000 homemade custom cookies in her first year of business by going all-in, networking with other businesses, and focusing on B2B sales.

Rhode Island H 5758

Tried to allow anyone (not just farmers) to sell homemade food products, as well as expand sales venues and allowable products

California AB 1144

Allows CFOs to ship and fulfill orders with a 3rd party delivery service. Also increases the sales limit to $75k for Class A CFOs, and $150k for Class B CFOs. Also specifies that the sales limit can increase annually to adjust for inflation. Also removes the requirement that Class B CFOs need special permission to… [read more]

Dads Can Cake Too with Jeremy Davis

Jeremy Davis from Charlotte, MI runs a lucrative custom-decorated cake business from home while working a full-time job, taking care of his kids, and occasionally appearing on national television.

Wyoming HB 118

Allows people to sell eggs under the law, and clarifies that there should be as few restrictions as possible for businesses using this law

Alabama HB 12

A simple bill that aimed to add roasted coffee and gluten-free baking mixes to the list of allowed foods. With SB 160 passing, these foods (and many others) became allowed.

Iowa HF 319

Attempted to create a food freedom bill, which mimicked many features of other food freedom laws around the country. However, it would have only applied to farmers.

South Dakota HB 1121

Tried to create a food freedom bill, which would have been similar to some of the best food freedom laws around the country

Georgia R&R 40-7-19 Amendments

Made very minor adjustments to the cottage food rules, most notably lessening the requirements for water testing and using kitchen scales.

Washington HB 1258

Tried to allow microenterprise home kitchen operations, similar to California and Utah. It would have let people run mini-restaurants from home, albeit with a lot of restrictions.

2020 Cottage Food Industry Recap

2020 was not just a year full of changes for the nation and world.

It was also a year which changed the cottage food industry… sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the better.

There were a number of important storylines this year, and surprisingly, many of them were not pandemic-related.

In this year-end recap, I’ll give my take on the major events of 2020 that related to the cottage food industry.

Maryland

Maryland passed a very restrictive cottage food law (SB 550) in 2012, which limited sales to farmers markets and public events. Then from 2018 – 2020, three amendments significantly improved the law. In 2018, HB 1106 allowed other in-person, direct sales in the state, including mail order sales. In 2019, SB 290 allowed sales at… [read more]

District of Columbia

Washington D.C. started allowing homemade food sales in 2013, with the passage of the “Cottage Food Amendment Act of 2013” (B20-0168). Cottage food businesses can now sell most types of non-perishable homemade foods within the DC area at almost any venue, including wholesale and online sales. To become a cottage food business, producers need to… [read more]

Utah HB 94

Allows Utah residents to sell homemade meals, similar to California’s AB 626 from 2019. This law comes with many requirements and restrictions, but it doesn’t have California’s opt-in limitation.

South Carolina S 308

Would have allowed the sale of all types of food, including perishable foods.

New York Rule Change 2021

Improved the cottage food law by updating administrative rules. Allows home processors to sell indirectly through restaurants, retail stores, and other wholesale venues.

Nebraska – Lincoln Ordinance & Lawsuit

Lincoln changed their ordinance to make it much easier to start a cottage food business. This ordinance change was in response to a lawsuit from the Institute for Justice.

Missouri HB 357

Tried to allow online sales and remove the $50k sales limit

How The Coronavirus Pandemic Impacted The Cottage Food Industry in 2020

Recently I was asked to briefly describe how COVID-19 has impacted the cottage food industry this year. Here’s what I wrote:

“The pandemic has impacted everyone differently, but it has impacted everyone. Some cottage food businesses have shut down temporarily or permanently, while just as many others have seen their sales skyrocket. More cottage food businesses started this year than any other by far, and overall, the pandemic has caused a huge surge of interest in this industry.”

That’s a very simplified view of what has been a crazy and complex year.

In this post, I’ll dig into some of the major trends and story lines that impacted the cottage food industry in 2020.

Makeathe

We are an artisan cottage bakery, specializing in sourdough bread and pastries. We source all of our grains from local farms and millers and try to highlight local produce and agricultural products in all of our creations.

Hurd Stirs by Hurd Creations

We are not an official business, just a family working together to teach our son about entrepreneurship and selling our product at local Farmers Markets. My son leads a small lemonade stand and I handcraft products to sell in conjunction with his endeavors. I only make a few food-based products, but also have other non-edible… [read more]

North Dakota Lawsuit

5 plaintiffs, along with help from the Institute for Justice, successfully sued the ND Health Department for undermining the food freedom law. The judge determined that the health department had intentionally ignored and undermined the law when they published their rules. After the judge’s ruling, the original food freedom law was restored.

Wisconsin Pickle Bill

For many years, Wisconsin allowed canned goods without allowing baked goods, unlike every other state. As of 2017, Wisconsin now has a ruling that allows homemade baked goods. This older law, also known as the “Pickle Bill”, is still in place for canned good sales. This law is very restrictive. Producers can sell up to… [read more]

Wild Yeast Kitchen

Artisan bread baking tradition in the heart of Alabama Wild Yeast Kitchen, is a cottage food bakery established in June of 2016. The bakery focuses on traditional methods of artisan bread making. It offers bread subscriptions, online ordering, and sells at the Montgomery Curb Market – a historic landmark. The Offering Wild Yeast Kitchen offers… [read more]

Creative Ways to Market Cookies with Mallory Dies

Mallory Dies, from Stafford, VA, shares many creative marketing ideas that she learned from selling homemade gourmet cookie sandwiches, and how she developed a significant following on social media.

Crystal Bakes

Welcome to Crystal Bakes! I am a girl who simply loves to bake and making people happy. I’m a proud mom of two beautiful kids who started out just wanting to make my kids birthday cake dreams come true, and well here i am loving what i do.

Maple Cottage Market – delicious home made produce from Virginia

Maple Cottage Market in Culpeper, VA provides delicious home grown and home made produce. Fresh eggs laid daily by The Girls; our flock of 12 hens (Molly, Brenda, Wanda, Poppy, Priscilla, Dottie, Daisy, Gladys, Elsie, Mavis, Blanche and Lula Mae): brown, white, large, medium and bantam eggs available. We also make our own home made… [read more]

Baking A Difference with Kathy Cherie

Whether it’s putting a smile on an ill child’s face, or contacting state legislators to change the law, Kathy Cherie from Elk Grove Village, IL is always baking a difference in her community.

Being Productive in Retirement with Joanne Littau

Joanne Littau from Denver, CO talks about why it’s difficult to make money from selling preserves, what practical tips to follow when canning goods, and why the cottage food community is so special.

Wyoming Sets A New Standard For Food Freedom

It’s July 1st, 2020, and for the first time in over 7 years, I’ve added a new rank to Forrager’s map. I named it “freedom”, and Wyoming has the honor of being the first state to reach this status!

As of today, Wyoming’s new amendment (HB 84) to their food freedom law takes effect, and it’s a big one. Because although their 2015 law has always been the best food freedom law in the country, truthfully, it still lagged behind some of the best cottage food laws in some ways.

Wyoming

LAW UPDATE Since this page was last updated, Wyoming improved their food freedom law with a new bill (HB 118). As of July 1st, 2021, producers can now sell eggs under the law, and clarifies that there should be as few restrictions as possible for businesses using this law. Wyoming has the best cottage food… [read more]

Sweet Sugars Cookies & Stencils

We are an artisan cottage bakery specializing in decorated butter cookies, cookie cakes, and drop cookies. We also make both traditional plastic and silkscreen culinary stencils.

The Cookie Cutter Queen with Tina Karnath

Tina Karnath from Saginaw, MI owns a plethora of cookie cutters and decorates hundreds of custom-designed cookies each week. She talks about pricing, resources, and what she’s learned over the years.

Wholesale Strategies That Work with Sonia Chang

Sonia Chang from Pasadena, CA, who has sold her healthy granola in over two dozen stores and has also operated a popular cupcakery, shares marketing strategies that she’s used to grow her businesses.

How To Live On What You Make with Lisa Kivirist

Lisa Kivirist talks about living off the land, moving away from the corporate life-style, creatively packaging products, diversifying income streams, advocating for laws, and everything in between.

New York Rule Change

Allowed indirect sales (through retail stores, restaurants, etc) and removed restrictions on custom-ordered products (wedding cakes, birthday cakes, custom cookies, etc)

Utah

NEW LAW As of May 5th, 2021, Utah passed a new bill (HB 94) which allows producers to run mini restaurants from their home. It is similar to California’s MEHKO law. Utah has two laws that allow for the sale of homemade food. This page is for Utah’s food freedom law, also known as the… [read more]

Utah Cottage Food

Utah has two laws that allow for the sale of homemade food. This page is for Utah’s cottage food law, which has existed since 2007. Utah also has a newer food freedom law, which is much easier to setup and allows many more types of food items, but is more restricted in other ways. If… [read more]

From Lawyer To Boozy Baker with Dawn Belisle

Dawn sells alcohol-infused cupcakes from her home bakery near Atlanta, Georgia, called Delights By Dawn. Dawn talks about scaling, making yourself memorable, and if you should quit your day job.

Boca Pastries

It is an online bakery where you feel like eating your grandma’s desserts…

B & Bees Provisions

B & Bees Provisions sells local honey and homemade jams and jellies in Memphis, Tennessee. A portion of proceeds are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Sue & Kim’s Pies LLC

Home based pie shop. I specialize in homemade pies made from scratch. Using local and fresh ingredients. We don’t use any additives in our pies.

South Dakota HB 1125

Removed the $5k sales limit for sales at home, and allowed the producer or someone living with them to deliver products. Specified that the producer’s physical address, mailing address, and phone number must be on labels.

I’ve always had a love and passion for being in the kitchen since I was a little girl.  I’ve taken old lessons learned along with new creative designs and ideas to bake up some really fun, delicious goods!  Over the years of baking for family and friends…..I had many requests for cakes, cupcakes & other… [read more]

Morning Rose Bakery

Welcome to Morning Rose Bakery! Miami natives now living in Florida’s Space Coast. We’ve always had a passion for baking and finally decided to share our treats with everyone else! All of our products are made in small batches, from scratch, and we only use quality whole ingredients Let us know if there’s anything we… [read more]

North Dakota Health Department Rules (NDAC 33-33-10)

After multiple unsuccessful attempts to restrict the food freedom law, North Dakota’s health department bypassed the legislature and passed rules that undermined the law. They restricted most perishable foods and added labeling requirements.

I Wouldn’t Worry About It

As a mother of young children, one with special needs, I’ve got a lot going on in my life. For years, I only cared about convenience, but that all changed when my children were born. I decided that I needed to get rid of all the chemicals, preservatives, and other unknowns in the products I… [read more]

Kentucky 902 KAR 45:090

These rules from the health department clarified which foods are allowed, required allergen info on labels, set a registration fee ($50), and added a number of workplace requirements for a home-based processor to follow.

Delaware 23 DE Reg. 52

Requires allergens on labels. Specifies that registrations must always be renewed on April 1st of each year.

Kentucky HB 468

This amendment allowed more types of food products (dried herbs, spices, nuts, candy, dried grains) and gave the health department authority to modify the allowed foods list. It also set a $60,000 sales limit, and required home-based processors to register with the health department.

Kentucky HB 468

This amendment gave the health department authority to modify the allowed foods list, and also increased the sales limit to $60,000.

Crabill Candy

I have been making my grandfather’s chocolate fudge since I was young. I remember making it every holiday season, and it has always been a big hit!

Maryland On-Farm Home Processing

Maryland allows farmers to get a special On-Farm Home Processing License to sell certain types of homemade food. However, most people use Maryland’s cottage food law (which does not require a permit or training from the health department) to sell their homemade food. This older law is useful for farmers who: Want to sell food products… [read more]

Chef OCD (Original Cindy Dishes)

Hello I’m Cindy a Las Vegas Local Cook of 45yrs who started in my grandmas kitchen at age 5 making Crepes, then cooking in Italian Restaurants since the age of 11. A German/Italian foodie & Cook who specializes in All types of Cuisines, Catering, Custom Meal preparation for small to large groups including some Vegetarian… [read more]

Nebraska LB 304

Allows sales from home, at public events, and via mail order. Requires producers to get registered and take a food safety course, unless they only sell at farmers markets. Adds labeling requirements.

The Cake Mom & Co.

  The Cake Mom & Co. has the one-of-kind cake to make your special day one you’ll always remember. For The Cake Mom & Co., a party is all about the cake. A custom cake creates a centerpiece for your event, and leaves people talking! We work with each customer to create the perfect dessert… [read more]

Native Harvest Bakery

Homemade Breads and Pies, Cakes Sourdoughs Yeast Breads Sweet Breads Pies Cakes we can do it  and do it well.

Everything Brittle LLC

Using an over 30 year old recipe, we produced brittle each year for family and friends as gifts. Many would ask “Why don’t you sell this brittle? It is awesome! We could then get it more than once a year!” After many years of people asking, we finally decided to bring our recipe and products… [read more]

Iowa SF 2390

Amends definitions with no substantial changes

MICoffee Co.

We have been home roasting coffee for nearly four years. After many requests from friends and family to buy our beans, we have decided to take the leap with MICoffee Co. We enjoy a good cup of coffee and want to make that possible for others too. Our suppliers are Direct Trade and Utz certified…. [read more]

Sweet Myrtle Bakery

Sweet Myrtle Bakery specializes in unique homemade desserts, cakes and treats!

Researching Your State’s Cottage Food Law

If you want to learn more about your state’s cottage food law, or better understand how this site was made, this post will give you ideas for how to research and update a law on Forrager.

Sugar Land Spice Company

We create hand crafted small batch seasonings and snacks, because Sugar Land Spice makes everything nice…. Visit us on the web at Sugar Land Spice Company

Creole Soul

Creole Soul believes that everyone can be a great cook! Our flavors are rooted and grounded in Louisiana Culture. Our products are crafted to make every meal a delight. Our services are designed to make hospitality easy. Creole Soul’s product line continues to grow. Our first seasoning was blended for marinading meats for our BBQ… [read more]

Custom Confections JC

Custom Confections JC is an online based business offering “all occasion” custom cakes and more including cupcakes, cake pops, petit fours, sculpted cakes, mini cakes and wedding cakes. In addition to cake we offer various chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate turtles, chocolate barks, truffles, brownies, fruit towers, various party favors and complete sweet tables.  Check out… [read more]

Angel’s Truffles and Confectioneries

After leaving culinary school, I set out to start a chocolate truffle business beginning in the cottage food market. I’ve continued being a CFO since moving to Texas in 2016, and am excited about the future! Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto me. Delivery info:… [read more]

Connecticut Residential Farm

Connecticut’s Residential Farm law is an old law that is restricted to farmers who make certain types of canned goods on their farm. If you are not a farmer, you cannot use this law, but you can use Connecticut’s cottage food law. It appears that a farmer can use both this law and the cottage… [read more]

Arizona SB 1022

Allows more types of nonperishable food products. Removes the home address labeling requirement. Requires food safety training for all producers. Requires producers to renew their registration every 3 years.

Kentucky HB 263

This amendment changed the law for home-based processors so that it could be used by anyone (not just farmers), and allowed all direct sales, including online sales (not just sales from farms, farmers markets, and roadside stands).

New York Rule Change

Allowed sales from home and online, including in-state shipping, and expanded the list of allowed products

Launch your home bakery business in Wisconsin, legally!

Is the aroma of sweet victory coming from the ovens of Wisconsin wafting your way? Here in our state we can finally – legally – sell homemade, non-hazardous baked goods. Or more specifically, it took over five years, three cottage food bills that never passed and a successful lawsuit so that here in Wisconsin we… [read more]

Sally’s Handcrafted Confections

My life long dream of making cookies, cupcakes and cake pops for my friends and family and wanting to expand out to own my own business. I would like to share my creations with you for your gift or event. I have obtained a Home cottage permit to keep the cost down so I can… [read more]

Clumsy Crow Baking

Clumsy Crow Baking is a home-based microbakery turning local grains into artisan breads, hand-shaped bagels and soft German pretzels. I use mostly home equipment and sell directly to customers from my Pullman home under the Washington State Cottage Food Act. I sell bread subscriptions. It’s like a bread club or Community Supported Bakery: You subscribe… [read more]

Oklahoma SB 508

Expanded sales venues to farmers markets as well as from the home, and allowed delivery of products to the customer

North Dakota HB 1433

North Dakota’s first law that legalized the sale of homemade food. This was the second food freedom law to be passed, and allows producers to sell all non-meat foods directly to consumers. The biggest restriction is that products must be consumed in private homes. There is no licensing or inspection needed to sell.

Wyoming HB 129

Allows the sale of farm-raised fish and rabbit meat, while also restricting poultry products to those who raise poultry

Wyoming SF 118

Allows those who have a commercial food establishment on their property to sell with this law

Florida HB 1233

Increased the sales limit to $50k and allowed online sales, as long as they were delivered in-person

Brown Sugar Bakery

Hi! Brown Sugar Bakery is a new Cottage Food Business, specializing in Cupcakes, Cakes, Cake Pops, Cookies, Brownies, Bars and Tarts. Check out my Facebook and Instagram pages for pictures and info, feel free to leave a comment or question, and stop back soon for more information! FB: www.facebook.com/ivegotacraving IG: @ivegotacraving_ -page under construction-

Noisy Rooster Farm

About us: Noisy Rooster Farm is a first generation family farm that is owned and operated by Veterans in the Ozarks of rural Missouri. We are a newly embarked farming operation just getting off the ground, so please bear with us as we get the kinks worked out. So far, we are raising livestock and… [read more]

Tennessee SB 1187

Simplified Tennessee’s cottage food laws by allowing all direct sales within the state of any type of nonperishable food (except acidified foods). Removed the potential for a producer to sell homemade food indirectly.

Texas HB 1926

Similar to HB 2600. Would have created a new category of home food business called a “home food processor.” Would not have changed the existing cottage food law. Would have allowed sales from any venue, including indirect sales. Would have permitted shipping within Texas. Would have expanded the list of allowed foods to include items… [read more]

The Eat Em Up Truck

We are dessert caterers that are ready to provide you with beautiful desserts and cakes.