Cottage Foods

Amarat Simonne, Tim Wilson, Geralyn Sachs, Chris Hilliard, Steven von Bodungen, and Liz Felter

This publication provides guidelines and advice for Florida Extension personnel to use when determining the appropriate usage for their kitchen facilities, based on a situation in one Florida county. The publication covers utilization, roles and responsibilities, and potential liability issues relevant to the use of county kitchens, providing some potential solutions to conflicts for all parties.

Amy Vu, Jennifer Hagen, Nancy Gentry, James D. Ellis, and Mary Bammer

The intended audience is Florida beekeepers of all operation sizes from small scale to commercial. There are 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state, managing almost 700,000 colonies. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have updated their rules and regulations related to honey production and what falls under the "Cottage Food Law." This publication provides beekeepers with Florida’s updates, so they will be able to sell honey legally under this law.

Sarah M. Ellis, Jennifer Hagen, Soohyoun Ahn, andMatthew Krug

Florida’s cottage food law allows individuals to prepare, package, store, and sell certain non-potentially hazardous foods from their primary residence without obtaining a food permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Cottage food operations can provide an affordable way to start a food business; however, operations are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable food safety, labeling, sales, recordkeeping, and local business requirements. This publication explains the key provisions of Florida’s cottage food law, including allowable and prohibited products, sales and labeling requirements, local compliance considerations, and frequently asked questions. The publication is intended to help current and prospective cottage food operators make informed business decisions and avoid common compliance issues.

Xuwei Song, Nicholas Wendrick, Charles A. Sims, and Andrew MacIntosh

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Nutrition and Food Systems