I understand how the cottage food law works to allow for small producers to sell honey. I’m interested in shifting to a different business plan that incorporates online sales and doesnt focus on selling just my own honey and products. The small scale hobby type of operation is fun, but I’m wanting to shift a different direction. Also, I have a lot of friends around the country that have asked to be able to buy online. As I understand it, at that point you have to get access to/build your own commercial kitchen for extraction and bottling In addition to a lot of other regulatory road blocks.
Does anyone have ideas on this transition?
Who are the specific people in the Dept. of Agriculture that I should contact to help with this process
Any ideas are appreciated.
Nikolai
dept of Ag food safety is responsible for issuing permits and making inspections. There is information on their website as to the most current requirements. you can submit a preplan for Facility layout To minimize the expense of reinspections prior to receiving permit. Have your labels predesigned and in compliance with FDA regulations because that is generally requested at inspection. You should in all probability create a business plan so you can identify the expenses above and beyond the leasing or construction of a certified food facility. I.e. liability insurance, storage facility, equipment costs Etc. Hard to be profitable working out of 5 gal pails. drums weigh well over 600 lbs. you will need means to transport, unload, store, control temp/crystallization and dispense. Familiarize yourself with federal food modernization and safety act and all the requirements contained within regarding record keeping, traceability, etc. Also you must register with the FDA as a food facility and are subject to any inspections they may want to make.
there are a lot of considerations Invest the time up front to get the plan in place else it gets a lot more expensive very quickly