The Cottage Food Law lets you make some foods at home to sell
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EmailLearn how the Cottage Food Law works as well as what and where you can sell.
Under the Michigan Cottage Food Law, Michigan residents can make certain foods using their home kitchen and sell them directly to the consumer at farmers markets and in other direct ways other than online sales.
Cottage Foods, as defined by Michigan law, are non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require time and/or temperature control for safety. Examples include products as bread, sweet breads and muffins, cakes, cookies, popcorn, fruit pies, dry herbs, coated nuts, jams and jellies in glass jars that can be stored at room temperature, dried pasta, cotton candy, dry dip and soup mixes, dehydrated vegetables and fruits, hard candies, and some dry bulk mixes.
Food sold under the Michigan Cottage Food Law must follow food product labeling guidelines by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Basic information about the product, including allergens, must be on the label.
A cottage food workshop will be held March 25, 2014 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 435 Ionia Ave., Grand Rapids, Mich. Register by March 21 to reserve your spot at this Michigan State University Extension workshop.
The MSU Product Center provides assistance to help Michigan entrepreneurs develop and commercialize high-value, consumer–responsive products and businesses in the value-added agriculture, food, and natural resources sectors. For more information, visit the Product Center website or call 517-432-8750.
