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Local Food
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Written by Carolyn Goodwin
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Wednesday, 06 April 2011 13:12 |
Update 4/21/11: The Cottage Food Bill has passed the Senate 46 - 1 and is on its way to Governor Gregoire for her signature. It will go into effect 90 days after she signs it!
Update 4/14/11: The Cottage Food Bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously! The amended version now goes back to the Senate for reconciliation. Assuming that the current version is approved there, it will go on to the Governor for her signature! Save
Have you dreamed of starting your own small food business, but been put off by the requirement to use a licensed commercial kitchen? If so, there’s a bill making its way through the Washington State Legislature that needs your support.
The “Cottage Food Bill,” SB 5748, currently scheduled for a vote in the Washington House of Representatives, would allow small producers to sell food made in their own kitchen. The bill would only apply to shelf-stable food products that don’t require refrigeration or reheating, like baked goods, jams and jellies, dried fruit, fruit butters, etc. And it would only be for small startups with annual gross sales of less than $15,000. There are quite a few other limitations in the fine print, but it’s a great start.
This new legislation, sponsored by Senator Phil Rockefeller, could give a lot of would-be producers the ability to test-market a product or start a food production business on a limited budget, because it would not require them to build or lease a licensed commercial kitchen. It would allow farmers to create value-added products with a portion of their crop to increase their profit margin. It might enable a stay-at-home parent to start a small cake-baking or canning business.
But none of this will happen unless the members of the Washington House of Representatives hear from all of us. The Bill has passed in the Washington Senate, and is now scheduled for a vote in the House. Please contact your Representative today to urge passage of this legislation.
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