Minnesota Farmers' Market Association

Minnesota Farmers' Market Association

The MN Cottage Foods Law (Minnesota Statute 28A.152) was first passed in 2015, allowing for "non-potentially hazardous foods" (baked foods; certain pickled or canned foods; jams, jellies, etc.) to be made in your home kitchen without a license, as long as the cottage food producer (CFP) successfully completes the mandated food safety training and registers with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Prior to the 2015 CFL, was the 'Bread Bill,' and then the 'Pickle Bill.' The CFL has been amended a few times since 2015, the latest in 2025; those changes do not go into effect until August 1, 2027.

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Cottage Foods Manuals Available in English and Spanish

Feel free to read and download our cottage foods manual, English version or Spanish version. Email info@mfma.org if you need a paper copy.) It covers the following topics:

The cottage food laws for human foods and pet treats
What cottage foods are and are not
How to test for pH and Aw
Labeling requirements for human foods and pet treats
Hemp and cannabis in cottage foods
Food testing labs
Beyond cottage foods - buying a license
Cottage foods vs. product of the farm
Sales tax
Product liability insurance
SNAP eligibility and cottage foods
Food safety
Registering with MDA
Resources
- Food sampling
- CFP Facebook Group
- MDA
- UMN Extension
- AURI

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Cottage food producers - check out the master foods list for the 1000s of foods that are eligible as cottage foods in MN. Don't see the food you want to make? Email us and ask us to research it: info@mfma.org.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Food Testing Log
Food Science Library - find answers to many of the food science answers behind decisions impacting cottage foods
Ask AVA - AURI’s Virtual Assistant, AVA, is a free virtual assistant for agricultural producers, food entrepreneurs, innovators and founders across the food chain to find answers to common food business, science and safety questions.

FOOD SAMPLING AT MARKETS

Food Product Sampling and Demonstration Exemption From Licensing

Click here to copy and download your own copy of the Food Sampling Worksheet.

Testing cottage foods for pH

Testing cottage foods for Aw

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Is this a Cottage Food?

Ask The Experts!

If you did not find the food you'd like to make in the NPH Foods List, please complete this Possible Cottage Food? form.

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Get Registered!

Free Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Test, Application

Register here for MFMA's free Cottage Foods Training classes, all via zoom. You will learn the legal requirements, food safety, & more, take the text, and complete the application.

Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Sun, May 10, 1-3pm
Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Sat, May 16, 12 - 4pm, Worthington
Cottage Foods Tier 1 Training, Application, & Test: Wed, May 20, 5 - 7pm

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MFMA provides services, programs, and leadership that support and promote farmers' markets across Minnesota and our Tribal Nations.

We envision a community of vibrant, profitable, and professionally managed Minnesota farmers’ markets that:

Cultivates, nourishes, and inspires a vibrant local foods community;
Provides accessibility to all to local farm fresh foods;
Allows local food producers to thrive and grow;
Ensures these opportunities are available to everyone regardless of ethnicity, age, gender identity, or economic standing.

Director of Government Affairs: Friendly Vang-Johnson /// friendly@mfma.org /// (206) 276-2284

Executive Director: Kathy Zeman /// kzeman@mfma.org /// (507) 664-9446

Minnesota Farmers' Market Association | 308 East Prince Street | St. Paul MN 55101