You must display a sign at the point of sale that states: “These foods are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” Examples of signs can be found in the last section of this Q&A ("Other") and in the cottage food training. If you are conducting internet sales, this same statement must be posted on your website.
You must display a sign at the point of sale that states: “These foods are homemade and not subject to state inspection.” Examples of signs can be found in the last section of this Q&A ("Other") and in the cottage food training. If you are conducting internet sales, this same statement must be posted on your website.
Cottage foods cannot be produced onsite at a community event or farmers’ market. If the business wishes to produce or dispense food or beverages onsite, they will likely need to obtain a food license. The type of foods being produced or dispensed will determine if licensure is needed from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or a health department. Contact MDA's Food Licensing Liaison for guidance at MDA.Licensing@state.mn.us.
Cottage foods cannot be produced onsite at a community event or farmers’ market. If the business wishes to produce or dispense food or beverages onsite, they will likely need to obtain a food license. The type of foods being produced or dispensed will determine if licensure is needed from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or a health department. Contact MDA's Food Licensing Liaison for guidance at MDA.Licensing@state.mn.us.
Sales Locations and Selling Your Cottage Foods
A registered cottage food producer can sell the food they make from: (1) their home, (2) a farmers' market, and (3) a community event.
- A "farmers' market" means an association of three or more persons who assemble at a defined location that is open to the public for the purpose of selling products of a farm or garden occupied and cultivated by the person selling the product.
- A community event is defined as an organized event with a defined start and end time in which multiple participating vendors are open to the public. A community event can be approved by the Municipality or applicable government agency to use public spaces, or can be held on private or public property with the consent of the owner or entity.
The cottage food producer who prepared the food product or their employee must be physically present to conduct sales at the booth or stand.
Food that is home-processed and home-canned, like pickles and salsa, cannot be transported across state lines (e.g., a registered Minnesota Cottage Food Producer making product in Wisconsin cannot sell their pickles across the border in Minnesota).
For sales of other homemade food outside of the state (like baked goods), please review those states' laws to ensure the sale of homemade food is allowed.
A registered cottage food producer can sell the food they make from: (1) their home, (2) a farmers' market, and (3) a community event.
- A "farmers' market" means an association of three or more persons who assemble at a defined location that is open to the public for the purpose of selling products of a farm or garden occupied and cultivated by the person selling the product.
- A community event is defined as an organized event with a defined start and end time in which multiple participating vendors are open to the public. A community event can be approved by the Municipality or applicable government agency to use public spaces, or can be held on private or public property with the consent of the owner or entity.
The cottage food producer who prepared the food product or their employee must be physically present to conduct sales at the booth or stand.
Food that is home-processed and home-canned, like pickles and salsa, cannot be transported across state lines (e.g., a registered Minnesota Cottage Food Producer making product in Wisconsin cannot sell their pickles across the border in Minnesota).
For sales of other homemade food outside of the state (like baked goods), please review those states' laws to ensure the sale of homemade food is allowed.
If cottage food intended for humans is ordered by a customer for delivery, the cottage food producer must personally deliver the food to the customer's home or meet the customer in person at another agreed-upon location within Minnesota to deliver the food directly to the customer. This means cottage food intended for humans cannot be shipped or delivered through the mail or a third-party shipping service.
Registered Minnesota cottage food producers may ship cottage pet treats only in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer. Cottage foods intended for humans are not allowed to be shipped in the mail or by commercial delivery.
Please note that the Cottage Food Law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however, the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the pet treat products if they are found in another state.
If cottage food intended for humans is ordered by a customer for delivery, the cottage food producer must personally deliver the food to the customer's home or meet the customer in person at another agreed-upon location within Minnesota to deliver the food directly to the customer. This means cottage food intended for humans cannot be shipped or delivered through the mail or a third-party shipping service.
Registered Minnesota cottage food producers may ship cottage pet treats only in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer. Cottage foods intended for humans are not allowed to be shipped in the mail or by commercial delivery.
Please note that the Cottage Food Law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however, the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the pet treat products if they are found in another state.
Cottage food producers can advertise and receive orders over the internet; however, the food must still be provided to the customer in person. The customer can collect the food they ordered by going to the producer's home, picking up the food at a booth or stand at a farmers’ market or community event, or by the producer delivering the food to the customer.
A website for advertising or ordering cottage foods must notify customers that they are purchasing a homemade food, just like the signage requirement at a physical sales location: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." The statement should be in a location highly visible to the customer visiting your cottage food website or page.
Please note that registered Minnesota cottage food producers may ship cottage pet treats in the mail or by commercial delivery to the end consumer. Human cottage foods cannot be shipped. The Cottage Food Law does not specifically prohibit shipping pet treats outside of Minnesota; however the producer is responsible for complying with any applicable laws in states where the products are distributed. You may be required to obtain a feed license, pay tonnage, and/or register the pet treat products if they are found in another state.
