By the way, it is important to talk about honey. Do you need a license to sell honey in Iowa? The answer is no, as it is considered a spice under current cottage food laws. However, it`s best to check with your local county for additional guidelines for keeping and raising bees in Iowa. For example, if you have this type of license that you plan to sell baked goods at a farmer`s market, you can also sell homemade fudge in the open category for selling cottage food in Iowa. But you wouldn`t be able to sell the same fudge or even jars of canned fruit to any other business than wholesale. Why is the roadside market under the hut not allowed? The farmer`s market will be over, but I will have wonderful produce that can be sold long after the season, and now I have no place to sell it. Are there alternatives? Click here for more cottage food resources, including templates and examples. Where can you sell products? Iowa allows artisanal food manufacturers to sell only for home pickup and farmers` markets. Those with an official home bakery license can sell at home, at farmers` markets, street stalls and at events.
In-store sales, wholesale sales to restaurants, and some online grocery sales are also permitted. “Cottage food” means food prepared in a residence that is not subject to a permit or inspection. As defined in the new legislation, “cottage foods” must meet ALL of the following criteria: As of July 2022, perishable foods, sauces, cucumbers, jerkies of meat, salsas, fermented foods, and juices are permitted under the Iowa Cottage Food Act of 2022. Iowa has two different laws for home cooks, which together together make up perhaps the best cottage food laws in the country. Iowa has allowed the sale of homemade food longer than any other state (since at least the 1980s). In Iowa, the list of foods allowed under artisanal food laws is quite long, which is likely encouraged by the many farming communities in this region. The sale of homemade preserves and the sale of honey in Iowa are allowed. It`s also important to note that the items you can sell vary between a general food store and a licensed home bakery. Iowa Cottage`s food laws don`t require you to sign up or do anything other than start selling. According to HF2431, Iowa Cottage foods are exempt from licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws if the food is sold and delivered directly to the consumer by the manufacturer (or delivered by mail or employee). Unlike many other states, Iowa`s artisanal food laws are much more user-friendly for those who want to sell baked goods at home. This likely has to do with the state`s large population and the rich history surrounding agricultural businesses in the area.
That said, if you want to sell baked goods from home, understanding the guidelines we`ve included here is the first real part of the overall process. In addition to this law, Iowa has a cottage food law that allows home cooks to sell almost any type of non-perishable food without a special license. However, products can only be sold directly to consumers (no indirect retail sales). The Artisanal Food Act also allows producers to sell acidified foods (pickles, salsas, sauces, etc.), which the Act does not. The following items cannot be sold under the Iowa Cottage Food Act: And do you need a special food license from Iowa to sell online, such as from a home bakery website? According to Iowa`s 2021 cottage food laws, everything is fine as long as the items fall under your home bakery license. If they are covered by the general cottage meal permits, you cannot. You can only sell your cottage food products directly to the customer. As an Iowa Cottage Food business, you can sell in these places: Iowa Cottage Food producers who operate a cottage food business must provide each product with a simple label.
Labels must include business address, company name, and product name. Individuals who operate a home food processing facility in Iowa, Iowa must include additional information on their product labels. In addition to the company name, business address, and product name, they must list the ingredients and net quantity of each product. You and anyone who works for you and handles food must also apply for a food vendor license in Iowa. The cost is $10 and requires brief training on food safety topics. This is intended to be a catalyst for better education on proper food preparation methods to prevent spoilage, which in turn protects the general public. This is a guideline that applies to essential cottage food requirements and licensing protocols for home bakeries. Iowa`s homemade food laws are divided into two programs: Iowa Cottage Food Company and Iowa Home Food Processing Establishments.
Meanwhile, people licensed by the Iowa Home Food Processing Establishment can sell fermented foods as well as baked goods that require temperature control for safety reasons, such as soft pies, cheesecakes, and baked goods filled with custard or cream. This license also allows the sale of personally raised poultry of less than 1,000 birds and even the sale of products containing red meat, provided the meat was purchased from a butcher who processes his own meat. Curiously, unlike the state`s artisanal food category, the Home Food Processing Establishment Licence does not authorize the sale of pickled or acidified foods. Can wedding mint, commonly known as cream cheesemint, be sold at the farmer`s market? You don`t need refrigeration. Under the Minnesota cottage food law, I know they are. But I don`t know if they`re in Iowa or not. Please let me know. Sincerely, Debra Nightingale How do Iowa`s food laws compare to those of other states? Here are some areas where these policies differ and what you need to know about each. The Cottage Food Act (described on this page) allows manufacturers to sell almost any type of non-perishable food directly to consumers, including selling and shipping products online. Do you own a grocery store or beverage business that is struggling or even threatened with closure due to onerous laws and regulations? This list is much more comprehensive and specific than cottage food laws for other states. Because Iowa`s policies are so specific, it`s important to discuss your home food sales plans with your local jurisdiction if an item doesn`t explicitly fall into one of these categories.
And they also seem to update their classifications quite regularly. The first category of Iowa cottage license is quite simple and contains a long list of permitted items. The labelling requirements are very simple and no formal inspection is required prior to sale. However, it is important to note that this category only includes non-perishable items. In addition, you can only sell these items at home or at farmers` markets. One of the most unique aspects of Iowa`s food law is that the rules are quite old. Indeed, for forty years, the State has authorized the sale of homemade edible products. You will need a Home Food Processing Establishment Licence from the Inspections and Appeals Department, which costs $50 each year.
