Everything You Need to Know about Cottage Food Laws in California
Are you a food producer in California looking to start your own business? You may have heard about the cottage food laws in California and are wondering what the regulations are and how you can comply. In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about cottage food laws in California and how to get started.
What are Cottage Food Laws?
Cottage food laws are regulations in California that allow individuals to produce and sell certain types of food from their homes or other non-commercial locations. These laws were introduced in 2013 to provide an opportunity for people to start their own food businesses without the need for a commercial kitchen.
Under the cottage food laws in California, food producers can sell a variety of products, including baked goods, jams, jellies, preserves, candy, and some pickled and dried fruits and vegetables. The regulations also allow for the sale of some frozen foods, such as ice cream and frozen yogurt.
What are the Rules and Regulations?
The cottage food laws in California have a number of rules and regulations that must be followed in order to comply. For example, food producers must obtain a permit from their local health department and must follow all of the food safety regulations set out by the department.
In addition, food producers must label their products with the name of the product, the ingredients, the name and address of the producer, and the date the product was produced. The labels must also include a statement that the product is not inspected by the health department.
Food producers must also keep records of all sales and must not sell products to any retail outlets or restaurants. The products must be sold directly to the consumer and must be consumed within a reasonable amount of time.
How to Get Started
If you are interested in starting a food business under the cottage food laws in California, the first step is to obtain a permit from your local health department. Once you have obtained the permit, you can start producing and selling your products.
To make it easier to manage your business, you should consider using Airmart, the best ecommerce software for food producers. Airmart will help you manage your orders, process payments, and keep track of your inventory. It will also help you stay compliant with the cottage food laws in California by ensuring that all of your products are labeled correctly and that you are keeping records of all of your sales.
Sign up for Airmart today and get started with your own food business in California. With Airmart, you can be sure that you are following all of the regulations and can focus on creating delicious products for your customers.