MIFMA advocates for policies that place community-driven marketplaces at the forefront of the local food movement to increase the awareness and consumption of the state’s diverse agricultural products and ensure equitable access to fresh, nutritious, local foods.
Since 2010, the Cottage Food Law in Michigan has allowed producers to make non-potentially hazardous food items in their home kitchen, not licensed by the State of Michigan, and sell them directly to consumers. A decade later, changes in the retail environment and lessons learned call for changes to be made to this bill. HB 4333 and HB5024 both propose expanding the law to allow online sales, increasing the gross sales cap, and creating a voluntary registration system to protect producer’s privacy.
Cottage food items are specific products created in a home kitchen that can be sold directly from the producer to consumers. Products must meet certain criteria, such as specific product eligibility and labeling requirements.
You can find Cottage Food businesses at many Michigan farmers markets, offering items like baked goods, spice blends, and fruit jams. If you joined us at Farmers Market at the Capitol this year, you may have shopped with one and enjoyed their products!
MIFMA was established in 2006 as a statewide association to promote local food consumption in Michigan by connecting more farmers to consumers through farmers markets. The number of farmers markets in Michigan has grown from around 90 in 2001 to 300 in 2023.
MIFMA places equity at the forefront of supporting the viability of community-driven marketplaces so that they can connect ALL consumers to local farms and businesses.
Our Farmers Market at the Capitol events in 2024 will be an excellent opportunity to show your support for the Cottage Food law on the lawn of the State Capitol in front of important decision makers. At the event on Tuesday, July 23 stickers will be available at the booths of our Cottage Food vendors and at the MIFMA booth. Get your sticker and post a selfie to social media to share your support with the hashtags #MICottageFood and #MIFMAinAction.
Additional activities to show your support for the Cottage Food law changes will take place at the events on August 27 and September 24, 2024.
At this time, legislators on the House Agriculture Committee need to take the first step by moving either HB 4333 or HB 5024 through the committee and to the floor of the House for a vote. Contacting Representatives on this committee, especially if you live in one of their districts, to let them know you support making changes to the Cottage Food law and asking the committee to take action can make a big impact!
Let your representative know that you support three changes to the Cottage Food law:
1. Increasing the gross annual sales cap to at least $40,000 per year
2. Allowing Cottage Food businesses to sell their products online
3. Protecting the privacy of Cottage Food business owners by creating a voluntary registration system
Let them know that it is important to act now to prepare these changes for the 2025 farmers market season. Don’t forget to also share your personal story with them about why you support Cottage Food businesses as a shopper, business owner, and/or market manager. Provide this one-pager to your legislators to help communicate these key messages.
After the House takes action, members of the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee will be the next group that needs to hear these messages from their constituents.
This committee guides MIFMA’s involvement in food and farming policy efforts and works in coalition with our membership and partner organizations to impact policy work at both the state and national levels. This work is centered around priorities voted on by our membership. Meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. EST by video conference.
To join, email office@mifma.org with the subject line “Advocacy Committee”.
Advocacy efforts include identifying and building bill champions and following the bills through the legislative process.
Your contribution is needed to support market managers in establishing, maintaining, and growing thriving farmers markets—vital community resources that serve your neighbors, local farmers and businesses, and you. Learn more about ways to give!