Keith Mack
Honey can be sold under cottage law in several states in the US, including Florida, Texas, and Minnesota. In Florida, beekeepers can sell raw honey under cottage law as long as they harvest, package, and sell the product themselves. Small-scale honey producers in Florida are exempt from needing a license or permit under the cottage food law. In Texas, honey can be sold as a cottage food because it does not require time or temperature control for safety. In Minnesota, honey is considered a product of the farm or garden and can be sold from the home, direct to consumers, at farmers' markets, shipped, and wholesaled to other businesses. However, in Michigan, honey is not considered a cottage food due to regulatory requirements and exemptions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Florida | Beekeepers are permitted to sell raw honey as a cottage food product as long as they harvest the honey from the hives, package, and sell the product themselves. |
| Beekeepers operating as a cottage food operator require no license or permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and are not inspected by any state government entity. | |
| Honey products must be pre-packaged with a label affixed that contains the information outlined in Section 500.80(5), Florida Statutes, and United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Part 101. | |
| Gross sales of all cottage foods, not just honey, cannot exceed $250,000 annually. | |
| Advertisements and orders and payments are allowed online or by mail order. | |
| Honey producers in Florida are exempt from needing a license or permit under Florida’s cottage food law by bottling and storing honey in a home kitchen. | |
| Michigan | Honey and maple syrup are not considered cottage foods, but they have their own set of licensing exemptions under the law. |
| Honey and maple syrup producers can wholesale their products, including to grocery stores and other retailers, as long as they are labeled correctly. | |
| The net weight or net volume of the Cottage Food product must include the metric equivalent. | |
| Allergen labeling as specified in federal labeling requirements is necessary. | |
| The following statement must be included: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development" in at least 11-point font. | |
| Minnesota | Honey is considered a "product of the farm or garden" under Minnesota Statute and can be sold from the home, direct to consumers, at farmers' markets, shipped, and wholesaled to other businesses. |
| Labeling requirements still apply. | |
| A cottage food registration or food license is required when ingredients are added to the honey or maple syrup product or if the producer is using honey from another producer. | |
| Texas | Honey can be sold as a cottage food because it does not require time or temperature control for safety. |
| Other labeling regulations from the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 131, Subchapter E, apply. |
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What You'll Learn
- Honey is a cottage food in Florida, Texas, and Minnesota
- Beekeepers in Florida don't need a license or permit to sell honey under cottage law
- Honey producers in Minnesota must follow labeling requirements
- Honey and maple syrup producers in Michigan can wholesale their products
- Honey producers in Florida can advertise and accept orders and payments online
Honey is a cottage food in Florida, Texas, and Minnesota
In Texas, honey is not explicitly mentioned as a cottage food. To sell honey as food in Texas, a food manufacturing license is generally required. This license is necessary for packing honey and can be obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, there is an exception under the Cottage Food Bill, which has limited options for selling products and prohibits wholesale and internet sales.
Minnesota's Cottage Food Law allows individuals to make and sell certain non-hazardous foods, including honey, without a license. This exemption applies as long as the honey is produced from hives owned or rented by the individual and no additional ingredients are purchased or added. If ingredients are added or if honey is sourced from another producer, a cottage food registration or food license is required.
It is important to note that each state has specific regulations and requirements for selling honey under their respective cottage food laws. These laws may include restrictions on sales locations, labeling requirements, and sales amount caps. Beekeepers and honey sellers should refer to the specific guidelines provided by their state's department of agriculture or relevant regulatory body to ensure compliance with the applicable cottage food laws and any updates or changes to those laws.
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Beekeepers in Florida don't need a license or permit to sell honey under cottage law
Beekeepers in Florida can sell raw honey under the Cottage Food Law, without needing a license or permit from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This applies to small-scale honey producers who bottle and store honey in a home kitchen. However, commercial operations must be permitted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Food Safety and must bottle honey in an inspected food facility or establishment.
To sell honey under the Cottage Food Law, beekeepers must harvest the honey from their hives, package it, and sell it themselves. They can bottle honey at their residences, but they must follow specific labeling requirements. For example, labels must include the net weight or volume, allergen information, and a statement that the product was "made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected." Beekeepers should also avoid making health-related claims or using certain terms like “certified” or "organic" without proper authorization.
Florida's Cottage Food Law allows individuals to manufacture, sell, and store certain types of food in an unlicensed home kitchen. This includes honey, which can be sold directly to consumers from the beekeeper's home, at roadside stands, farmers' markets, or flea markets. Honey can also be advertised and sold online or by mail order, with delivery directly to the consumer or a specific event venue.
It is important to note that there are limits to the gross sales allowed under the Cottage Food Law. For example, if a beekeeper sells honey and jam under the cottage food exemption, their combined gross sales for these products cannot exceed $250,000 annually. Additionally, cottage food operations must comply with applicable county and municipal laws regarding traffic, parking, noise, signage, and hours of operation.
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Honey producers in Minnesota must follow labeling requirements
Honey producers in Minnesota must adhere to specific labeling requirements. Firstly, the label must include the product identity, with the common name "honey" clearly visible. If the honey contains additional ingredients beyond honey itself, a complete list of ingredients must be included, listed in order of predominance by weight. This list can be in lowercase letters, with the type size for ingredient listings no less than 1/16 of an inch. However, if the label has more than five square inches but less than 25 square inches, the type size should not be less than 1/8 inch in height. For labels exceeding 25 square inches, a type size of at least 3/16 inch is necessary.
The label must also specify the net quantity of the product in terms of weight or volume, using both English and metric units. The declaration of contents should be expressed in ounces and full units for quantities ranging from one to four pounds or one pint to one gallon. If the weight exceeds one pound, fractions should be expressed as decimals, for example, 1 1/2 pounds should be written as 1.5 lb. The declaration should be placed in the lower one-third of the label, separated from other print, with letters and numbers relative to the area of the label panel.
Additionally, honey producers in Minnesota should refrain from making health claims on their labels. Nutritional claims are not permitted and would require the display of a nutritional content label. Terms like "healthy," "packed with energy," or "good for allergies" should be avoided. Instead, focus on descriptive terms for the honey, such as "pure," "natural," or "orange blossom honey," indicating the floral or plant source.
It is also important to note that honey produced in a home kitchen in Minnesota may be considered a cottage food, and specific regulations apply to such products. For instance, a statement indicating that the honey "was produced in a home kitchen that is not subject to state licensure or inspection and that may also process common food allergens" is necessary. This statement ensures compliance with cottage food laws, which vary across states, so it is essential to refer to Minnesota-specific guidelines.
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Honey and maple syrup producers in Michigan can wholesale their products
Honey and maple syrup producers in Michigan have their own set of licensing exemptions under the law. They are not limited to direct sales as cottage food producers are. Honey and maple syrup producers can wholesale their products, including to grocery stores and other retailers who will then resell them, as long as they are labeled correctly.
Honey and maple syrup are not considered cottage foods because the regulatory requirements and exemptions have some significant differences. However, they do fall under the Cottage Food Law in some cases. For instance, if honey or maple syrup producers meet the licensing exemptions, they must follow the same labeling requirements as those outlined for cottage food products. This includes the statement: "Processed in a facility not inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development".
In addition, honey and maple syrup producers who meet the licensing exemptions must still meet all requirements of the Michigan Food Law, including sanitation, building construction and design, employee hygiene, etc. Honey and maple syrup must be produced in a facility that meets basic processing requirements, as outlined in the Michigan Food Law.
Proposed legislation in Michigan would lift the income cap for honey and maple syrup makers, allowing them to sell more of their products at farmers' markets and roadside stands. The proposed legislation would hike the cottage food gross sales ceiling to $50,000 and end the different limits for honey and maple producers. This would create parity between honey and maple syrup makers and other cottage food producers, who are currently limited to $25,000 in gross annual sales without needing state licensing.
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Honey producers in Florida can advertise and accept orders and payments online
Florida's Cottage Food Law allows beekeepers to sell raw honey as a cottage food product, provided they harvest the honey from their hives and package and sell the product themselves. This means that beekeepers can sell honey directly to consumers from their homes, roadside stands, farmers' markets, or flea markets.
Honey producers in Florida can also advertise and accept orders and payments online. They can now sell and deliver their products directly to the consumer or a specific event venue, or ship them interstate by mail or commercial delivery service. However, they must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and regulations regarding traffic, parking, noise, signage, and hours of home retail operations.
It is important to note that honey sold under the Cottage Food Law must adhere to specific labelling requirements. The label must include the ingredients in descending order of weight, with any added ingredients such as flavourings or spices listed. The net weight or volume must be stated, and allergen information, as specified by federal labelling laws, must be provided. The statement, "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations," must be included in at least a 10-point font size. Additionally, terms like "healthy" or "helps with allergies" should be avoided, as nutritional claims require a nutritional content label.
To qualify for the Cottage Food Law exemption, honey producers must not exceed a certain annual gross sales limit, which includes all foods produced and sold, not just honey. For example, if a producer sells honey and jam under this exemption, their combined gross sales for these products must not exceed $250,000 per year. It is also important to check with local authorities, county, and farmers' markets before selling to the public, as there may be additional regulations to comply with.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, beekeepers are permitted to sell raw honey under Florida's Cottage Food Law, as long as they harvest the honey from their hives and package and sell the product themselves.
Labels must include the net weight or volume, allergen information, and the statement, "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services" in at least 11-point font. Words like "pure," "natural," or "all-natural" are acceptable, but avoid health-related statements as they require a nutritional label.
Yes, honey can be sold as a cottage food in Texas because it does not require time or temperature control for safety.
Honey is considered a "product of the farm or garden" in Minnesota and can be sold from the home, direct to consumers, at farmers' markets, shipped, and even wholesaled to other businesses. No license is required for selling products of the farm or garden.
Honey is not considered a cottage food in Michigan due to regulatory differences. However, honey producers can wholesale their products to retailers as long as they are labeled correctly.
