Upper Peninsula Cottage Food Law classes teach regulations and marketing

The two hour workshop not only covers the regulations around producing under Michigan’s Cottage Food Law but also covers items related to food safety and business aspects such as marketing your product.

Michigan’s Cottage Food Law allows individuals to produce certain low hazard products in their home kitchen to sell direct to consumers. The adoption of this law in 2010 has given the opportunity for value-added producers to test the market with low entry costs and has been a benefit to many farmers markets across the state. Making products under the Michigan Cottage Food Law can be a great way to start a small business. While these products do not need to be licensed or inspected, it does not mean that the producer isn’t responsible for following safe practices and being in compliance with the law. It is up to the producer to ensure there is a clean work environment, only make products allowed under the law, make sure products are appropriately labeled and that they are marketed in a manner consistent with what the law allows.

Michigan State University Extension offers several opportunities for interested individuals to learn about what is allowed under the law, what the food safety considerations are, how to prepare your home workspace when producing under the law and how to label and market your product. There is a listing of in-person workshops on the MSU Events website as well as an online version of the workshop. Participants attending one of the workshops will receive a certificate of completion.

Three workshops will be held this spring in the Upper Peninsula:

April 5, 2017, Marquette Commons, Marquette: 5:30-7:30 p.m. (Eastern)

April 26, 2017, Rudyard Township Hall, Rudyard: 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Eastern)

May 23, 2017, Gogebic Community College, Ironwood: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Central)

Additional information about the producing products under the law can also be found on the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Developments Michigan Cottage Food Law information page.

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