Small Town News

Direct Food Marketing workshop planned

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The farm market season is upon us, and farmers may look to direct marketing of home - grown or home-canned favorites as a way to diversify their income. A law recently signed by Wisconsin Governor Doyle, known as the 'Pickle Bill,' allows a person to home-can fruits, pickles, salsa and other acid and acidified food for sale at farm markets, community events, or a farm roadside stand.

Speaker Dave Specht, from the Department of Agriculture will answer questions related to direct marketing regulations of these and other produce on Wednesday June 2nd at the Jackson County Extension office. Specht will cover state requirements by product and market, and give an overview of food marketing regulations. This will including licensing and labeling regulations to assist local producers in the marketing of their products.

According to University of Wisconsin-Extension food safety specialist Barbara Ingham, food processors in Wisconsin usually are licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). "The 'Pickle Bill' specifically exempts a person from having to obtain a license to can acid or acidified foods for sale," says Ingham. Exempt processors must still register with DATCP, Ingham notes.

The new law requires that an individual claiming a licensing exemption abide by the following rules:

Only naturally acid or acidified canned foods produced in a home kitchen may be sold under the licensing exemption. Bakery items, dried or packaged foods, or other processed foods may not be sold under the exemption. Home-canned low-acid foods like vegetables or meat can never be sold, with or without a license.

Canned items may be sold only at community or social events, farm roadside stands, or a farmers' market, and only in the state of Wisconsin.

Sales revenue from exempt products may not exceed $5,000 per year per person. The sales, limit for a family is also $5,000 per year.

Any farm stand or market booth must clearly post a sign stating: "These canned goods are homemade and not subject to state inspection."

Each jar of canned food that is sold must be labeled with the name and address of the person who prepared and canned the food product, an ingredient statement, and the date on which the food product was canned. Each jar must also be clearly labeled with a statement: "This product was made in a private home not subject to state licensing or inspection."

The workshop will be held at the Jackson County UW-Extension 227 S. 11th Street at 6:00 p.m. Please contact the UW-Extension for more information.



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© 2010 The Blair Press-Alma Center Blair, Wisconsin. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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