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How Can I Sell My Home-Canned Foods, Like Jams, Salsa, Sauces, Fruits and Vegetables

Can I Sell My Home-Canned Salsa, Jams and Other Preserves?

Have you got a great recipe for home-made salsa, jam, jelly or other home-canned food? Your friends and family tell you that you should go into business selling it? And now you're wondering what it would take to actually sell your award-winning tomato salsa, apple butter, applesauce or strawberry jam? This page should answer your questions to help you Decide if it's right for you!

The production and sales of processed foods is governed by state and federal regulations. Each state is different, so proper advice is needed from a specialist in each state. Some states allow sales at farmer's markets of select foods; others prohibit sales altogether. Most states now have cottage food laws now that don't require a licensed kitchen. In those states, you can sell at a farmers market or roadside stand jams and jellies as well as baked goods that don't require refrigeration. Typically, in those states, you just need to label them with the weight or volume, our name, our address, the words "this item is home produced" and all the ingredients in order by weight. Usually, you can not do anything 'acidified' (like pickles), anything pressure canned, or anything needing refrigeration. For this we don't need a licensed kitchen or any inspections. "

First, check if your idea falls under Cottage Food laws

Cottage food laws are exceptions for certain types of low-risk food operations.

States with Cottage Food Laws

The vast majority of us now live in states that either have cottage food laws or exemptions.  So, unless you live in KS, ND, MT or RI, click on the link below:

See this page for specific information for your state   (EXCEPT for Kansas, North Dakota, Montana, New Jersey and Rhode Island)

States without Cottage food laws or exemptions:

Click here if you live in Kansas, North Dakota, Montana, New Jersey and Rhode Island

What if my idea is bigger than a "cottage" business or that isn't applicable?

Don't give up.  Perhaps what you want to do does not fall under the cottage food laws.  In that case, you're starting  a regular food business. 

This page will help you understand how to do that .

Related stories and articles

Books

Sell Your Specialty Food: Market, Distribute, and Profit from Your Kitchen Creation (Paperback)
by Stephen Hall

In Sell Your Specialty Food , Stephen Hall outlines every food marketing opportunity and then supports entrepreneurial action with detailed guidance. Whether you own a business or you are thinking about starting one, Hall will show you how to:

  • Identify a winning product and its most appropriate markets.
  • Get your product ready to market.
  • Advertise, promote, and sell your product.
  • Create your own success niche. Professionalize your business.
  • Also included is updated information about the role of the Internet, health and organic food markets, the latest government regulations and technological advances, and contact information for dozens of valuable resources.

How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, 5th (Home-Based Business Series) (Paperback)
by Denise Vivaldo

Description
From pricing your services to honing your food presentation skills, this comprehensive guide provides a wealth of information about building a home-based catering business.
From the Back Cover
Are you passionate about parties? Do you live to cook? Now you can realize your dream of working from home at something you enjoy - a home-based catering business. Author Denise Vivaldo shares her experiences and advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based catering business, from estimating your start-up costs and finding clients to outfitting your kitchen and staying profitable. She even offers tips on the latest high-tech help, including CD-ROM recipe books, culinary Web sites, and computer software designed especially for chefs and caterers. Learn all about defining your market niche, selling yourself as a pro, establishing your daily schedule, pricing your services, organizing parties with ease, honing your food presentation skills, avoiding the 10 most common home-based mistakes and much more.

Homemade for Sale: How to Set Up and Market a Food Business from Your Home Kitchen Paperback

March 24, 2015by Lisa Kivirist (Author), John D. Ivanko (Author)

Homemade for Sale is the a guide to conceiving and launching your own home-based food start-up. Packed with profiles of successful cottage food entrepreneurs, this book covers everything you need to get cooking for your customers, creating items that by their very nature are specialized and unique.

One Smart Cookie: How a Housewife's Chocolate Chip Recipe Turned into a Multimillion-Dollar Business : The Story of Mrs. Fields Cookies

This is the story of how Mrs. Fields too her recipe for homemade cookies and made a large food business and brand from it.

Man With No Name: Turn Lemons into Lemonade Paperback

April 1, 1994by Wally Amos

This is the story of "Famous Amos" and how he built a cookie brand.

Other food business links

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