Can You Sell Homemade Food at Farmers Markets?

How to Sell Food at Farmers Market

The best sellers at farmers markets understand how to maximize their farmers market income potential. Selling food at a farmers market can be profitable. However, each state and some localities have unique rules and regulations to adhere to.

In nearly all states, cottage cooks, food artisans, farmers, and other entrepreneurs are allowed to sell certain foods (“cottage” foods) with little red tape. These foods are typically limited to produce, dry mixes, jams and jellies, and some baked goods that do not pose a significant risk of food contamination.

Selling Cooked Food at Farmers Market

Can you sell homemade food at farmers markets? Yes, but not all types. Farmers markets are traditional venues for selling tomatoes, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other single-ingredient foods like fruits and vegetables. However, because of growing public demand and the basic human right to procure healthy food, the cottage food movement has been growing exponentially for years now.

State governments recognize that people enjoy selling cottage foods at farmers markets, and that it helps to enhance community health by providing nutritious foods that patrons may not otherwise be able to obtain. So, you're probably allowed to sell food at a farmers’ market. You simply must be sure of which food you're allowed to sell, and other rules that you'll need to follow to sell it.

What baked goods sell best at farmers' markets?

Everybody loves fresh baked goods! Some of the best-selling baked goods at farmers markets across the country include:

• Chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, and other cookies
• Blueberry and other types of muffins
• Warm, gooey cinnamon buns
• Fresh-baked artisan bread
• Homemade pizza dough
• All kinds of cakes
• Rich, tasty fudge
• Country biscuits

Let's face it, a good baker is worth a lot of appreciation. If you have a special recipe that you bake like no other, you can sell it at a farmer's market and make money. It just takes an intelligent marketing plan and some enjoyable effort, hanging out, talking with, and appeasing hungry customers!

Do you need a food permit to sell at a farmers’ market?

You may or may not need a permit to sell food at a farmers’ market. It depends on where the farmers market is. Of course, the government is in control. Each state government, and some local governments within each state, has unique cottage food laws that apply to selling at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and other allowable venues.

To be sure what the laws and regulations are in your state and locality, it's best to check with the authorities. A good first step is to call your local health department. If you don't get the proper office right away, you'll be efficiently directed. Then, you can ask direct questions and get the information you need to be sure that you're in full compliance with selling food at a farmers’ market.

Some jurisdictions, but not all, do require processed or prepared food vendors to obtain selling permits, as well as be subject to periodic inspections from the health department. Some jurisdictions are more stringent about enforcement of cottage food laws than others.

Typically, food vendors selling unprocessed foods, like produce, are subject to fewer rules and regulations than those selling processed or prepared foods. The concern is foodborne contamination by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogenic microorganisms that might make people sick.

In general, if you grow the food yourself, or buy it from a grower, and you do not modify it in any way, then it is likely allowed to be sold at a farmers' market with little red tape.

Registering as a food vendor for a farmers’ market is a straightforward, inexpensive, and fast process. In most states, your food preparation kitchen will be subject to inspections from the local health department. There may be other rules as well, like having no children or pets in the production area.

In some jurisdictions, vendors will need to complete a food safety certification course at their own expense. These can typically be completed in less than one day by studying the necessary materials, and then passing an online examination.

Remember that state governments aren't trying to harass you or make it difficult for you to sell homemade food at farmers' markets. It's their job to ensure public safety and health. They just want to make sure that the foods out there circulating around the public aren’t potentially harmful with the ability to cause sickness.

So, it's best just to go ahead and deal with all the governmental red tape before you even begin producing your foods. Having your license, certifications, liability insurance, or whatever else is required will give you increased peace of mind and confidence about your business endeavor.

If you don't get the answers you need from your local health department about selling cottage foods at farmers markets, you can also visit the National Agricultural Law Center to research the information you require. This is a governmental database with information about cottage food laws in all states.