California’s New Law Makes Homemade Food Sales Legal

A great article on the website "Triple Pundit" on AB 1616, the California Homemade Food Act.  Highlights below:

By Gina-Marie Cheeseman

...I have known a number of people in the golden state who wanted to start a home based business selling baked goods, but didn’t because they lacked access to a commercial kitchen. As of January 1, people who want to use their kitchens to prepare food for sale in California can now do so. The Homemade Food Act (AB1616) went into affect on that date.

Signed by Governor Jerry Brown last September, AB1616 allows Californians to sell “non-hazardous” food to grocery stores and restaurants for annual revenue up to $35,000 in 2013. That will increase to $45,000 next year and $50,000 in 2015. The new law puts California into the ranks of at least 32 other states that have passed similar laws.

AB1616 specifically states that a city or county “shall not prohibit a cottage food operation” but must do...

...The law is good for California’s economy, a fact not lost on Governor Brown. A press release by the Governor’s office declares that Governor Brown signed “eight bills to bolster business and job creation in the state of California.” One of those eight bills is the Homemade Food Act.

“As California’s economy recovers from the deepest recession since the Great Depression, it’s important that state government bolsters local job growth,” said Governor Brown. “Simply put, these bills make it easier for people to do business in California.”

Cottage food laws, as homemade food laws are often called, are particularly important during rough economic times. During high unemployment, cottage food laws allow people to make a living by using their own kitchens...

You can this entire article and more at the Triple Pundit HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto