Michigan’s governor, Jennifer Granholm, signed legislation today that will allow citizens to sell some food products they make in their own kitchen. These cottage foods are typically ‘non-dangerous’ items such as baked goods, james, and jellies.
Previously, home cooks had to find a certified commercial kitchen and pay a licensing fee to sell their products.
Michigan’s new law will still require milk, milk products, meats, acidic foods, and foods requiring temperature control to be produced in certified facilities. So my famous egg-salad sandwiches won’t be available outside my kitchen just yet.
You’re not going to see cottage foods in grocery stores, either.
People can sell foods at roadside stands, flea markets or fairs. But food to be sold in grocery stores must be made in a certified commercial kitchen and have the proper MDA licensing.
The foods’ labels must make clear that the food was prepared in a home kitchen, not an MDA-certified commercial kitchen. The label must also list the ingredients in descending order by weight, allergen information, net weight and display the company’s name and address.
Once a business is making more than $15,000, it will be required to operate out of a commercial kitchen and seek proper licensing.
What I like about this change is that it allows anyone to kickstart a small home food business. Michigan may very well see a rush of innovative and delicious products making their way to farmer’s markets this summer.