Does anyone sell their produce/homeades at the local farmers market?

[old fashioned]

Well of course.....maybe they don't want us to be healthy and regulate it so much that we're almost forced to buy tainted goods.

 

[hwillm1977]

How would one go about selling at a farmer's market? We have many in the surrounding communities. Are there permits needed, table space fees, restrictions?

The rental for our spot is $50/week... that includes electricity, a sink with running water (required by the health department), a fridge and freezer and a spot to store appliances through the week.

Because we sell prepared food I had to take a food handling course from the health department, and the booth had to pass random inspections every 3 months from the health department. (they check that food is at correct temps, properly stored, soap in the hand washing sink, etc)

The kitchen the food was prepped in also had to pass inspections (every 12 months), but that was a commercial kitchen in a restaurant.

Restrictions are going to be different for every province/state though.

Once you get going it's really not that hard to keep going, it can just seem overwhelming when you're first starting out.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I wouldn't have a problem with the regulations, as most of them are common sense . . . but it is the fact that it all costs the little guy a disproportionate amount relative to sales to get all their paperwork together and be legit. :/

 

[big brown horse]

Personally, I think Washington is over regulated on alot of things and most of it just doesn't make alot of sense.

eta-what about veggie seeds? or is THAT licen$ed too??

Its a pain in the buns for folks that want to do the right thing, I know.

However, coming from south TX where the rules are quite lax, I can appreciate your tough rules and regulations.

In Houston there is a taco truck parked literally on every single corner...complete with flashing lights, stray dogs and loud boom-boom music.

I decided I had enough when a taco truck parked in a driveway of my neighborhood and opened up for business. They emptied their old grease right into the drainage ditch. NO lie!

Try to sell your house with that a few doors down.

Same with ice cream vendors on bikes. They were everywhere too. The constant bell ringing ALL day long. Sketchy lookin' ice cream too.

Anyway, I do wish it were easier and cheaper to sell local, fresh, healthy food and veggies/plants up here though.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I'm not sure of the technicalities of selling seeds.

 

[Wifezilla]

Again, depends on the state.

I am just going to label mine and sell them...regs be damned.

I am not trying to rip anyone off. I have tested the seeds for viability myself (I sprouted the daikon and it was DELICIOUS! I planted the cress and it grew like mad. I have a lot of other planted going crazy in starter pots.)

If I am breaking some law, I really don't care. The gvmnt can bite me. I am SOOOOO cranky about the gvmnt right now, I guess this is my little temper tantrum

 

[chicken stalker]

I sell jams and jellies at our local market. Right now its once a month and I sell out pretty quickly, about 30-40 jars in about 2 hours. I work full time and have a semi large family so that's all I have time to make. The state did have to come and "inspect" my kitchen, which was free and I had to get insurance which cost around the same as car insurance.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

If I am breaking some law, I really don't care. The gvmnt can bite me. I am SOOOOO cranky about the gvmnt right now, I guess this is my little temper tantrum

Let's hope no one here is from the CIA. I hear they have been having fun on FaceBook and Twitter.

 

[sylvie]

Don't a lot of churches have kitchens that might be rented for use on off days? I'm trying to see angles around roadblocks on homemade food products.

Speaking of food prep, I know a guy who owns a large winery, It is listed as a fruit stand so he can make and sell wine but not food like sandwiches. He can sell cheese and crackers. In fact it is a law that he must offer food with wine. Crazy rules.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Churches are probably safe harbors for canned good sales.