Do you like to bake bread, make pastries, pasta, candy, jams, jellies and preserves? Do you want to earn extra income from creating and selling these products? If you answered “yes” to the above questions, continue reading.
In 2011, the Florida Legislature enacted House Bill 7209, allowing individuals to manufacture, sell and store certain types of “Cottage Foods” in an unlicensed home kitchen. “Cottage Foods” must be made in your own kitchen. This law has helped many individuals start their own businesses with little startup cost.
The Cottage Food Law allows individuals to make and sell breads, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cookies, candies, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit pies, dried fruits, dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures, pasta, cereals, granola, coated or uncoated nuts, vinegar and flavored vinegars, popcorn and popcorn balls.
These products are not considered potentially hazardous. They do not need to be kept at certain temperatures to keep food items safe from pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.
You can create and sell these products without a state license, permit or inspection if your annual gross sales does not exceed $15,000. All items that are sold must be prepackaged with a label affixed that contains specific information about the product, including where it was made, a statement that the food was made as a cottage food and lists of the ingredients and allergens that are in the product.
The University of Florida’s Nassau, Duval and Bradford Extension services offer “The Homemade Entrepreneur” course to help you discover your potential and venture into starting your own business. You will learn about food safety and quality, product development, regulatory requirements, how to make jams, jellies and pasta. You will develop marketing ideas and make a business plan.
This three-session course meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 16 and 23 and Sept. 6. All classes will be held at Duval County Extension Service location at 1010 N. McDuff Ave., Jacksonville. Registration fee is $75 and class size is limited to 25. To register, go to https://uf-foodbusiness-cottage-food.eventbrite.com.
To learn more about the course, call Meg Alpine at 904-530-6359.