In the heart of the fruitbelt, Southwest Michigan is wading in the early waters of Summer. Our last frost date has come and gone, and soon we will be bursting with berries, creating new recipes for pickling perfect vegetables, and baking as many breads and muffins as we can.
Many of us like to fatten up our pantries for the barren winter months, void of local produce (and sunshine), but some turn our practiced kitchen magic into a side business or source of income during the warm seasons. Farm markets and roadside stands eagerly sell jams and jellies, allowing the preservation of the flavors of Summer while adding to our earnings.
With the Michigan Cottage Food Law, you can do some of that from your own home. This law allows the sale of certain home-made foods and products to the public, without the use of a commercial kitchen.
Michigan State University Extension is hosting a free webinar via Zoom on Tuesday, June 7th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm, explaining Michigan’s Cottage Food Law and how to prepare and sell foods. This class will combine education about Cottage Food Law and the importance of food safety, covering topics such as: preparing, packaging, labeling, storing, and transporting cottage foods. Participants that attend the full program will receive a Michigan Cottage Food Law/Food Safety Certificate.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Inspector will be available for Q&A during the workshop, and the MSU Product Center will be joining to cover the business aspects of the Michigan Cottage Food Law. There have been a total of eight Cottage Food Law webinars offered so far this year.
As a consumer, it’s important to know what rules and regulations those who sell goods to the public are supposed to follow. And as curious-by-nature supporters of small business, we are interested to learn how to turn a hobby into a potential business! For more information on the webinar and the Michigan Cottage Food Law, please visit the link to register, or the michigan.gov Cottage Foods Info page.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
