Cottage Food competition a tasty addition to Ag Expo
A Cottage Food division – the first in the state – has been added to the Southwest Florida Ag Expo this year.
“The Cottage Food competition is the first in the state. That is the really cool piece – Cottage Food is new to the state as far as being part of an agricultural expo,” said Jennifer Hagen, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Lee County Family & Consumer Sciences agent, adding she wants to “introduce people to some of the opportunities to improve their life.'”
Cottage Food was created in 2011 by the state as an agricultural enterprise for small farms to create other products to increase revenue.
“It came around as a way for small farms to be able to create value added products to help sustain them year-round above and beyond the crops they were growing,” Hagen said.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services does not require a license or permit for Cottage Food operations, as well as not being inspected by any state government entity. The gross sales for cottage food operations cannot exceed $250,000 annually.
Hagen said an exemption was created in state statute that production of certain types can be made in an individual’s home for sale to the general public.
“It’s an exemption to having to follow commercial safety regulations,” she said.
The product for cottage food may not be time or temperature controlled. According to Cottage Food Operations “this means the final product may not be a food product that requires time/temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation; an animal food that is raw or heat-treated; a plant food that is heat-treated or consists of raw seed sprouts, cut melons, cut leafy greens, cut tomatoes or mixtures of cut tomatoes that are not modified in a way so that they are unable to support pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation; or garlic-in-oil mixtures that are not modified in a way so that they are unable to support pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.”
The types of cottage food that can be produced include loaf breads, rolls and biscuits; cakes, pastries and cookies; candies and confections; honey; jams, jellies and preserves made from high acid-fruits only; fruit pies and dried fruits; dry herbs, seasonings and mixtures; homemade pasta; cereals, trail mixes and granola; coated or uncoated nuts; vinegar and flavored vinegars; popcorn and popcorn balls and nut butters including almond, peanut and cashew.
Hagen said it is items that do not have to be refrigerated or baked and has a shelf life.
“Cottage food does not require you to have any food safety education and training,” she said.
In the past, at traditional fairs there were some sorts of bake-off competition, or a section that has pickles, salsa, and canned foods. She said the products were submitted and judges tasted and sampled the products.
“I wanted to change it to be more of a food-related entrepreneurship program,” Hagen said.
Miriam Dotson, Southwest Florida Ag Expo spokesperson, said the Cottage Food division opens the door to learn about where food comes from.
“A lot of people over the years have shown this desire to be healthier and learn about food,” she said.
Dotson is excited about the entrepreneurial element.
“This is going to help you. We want to see people succeed,” Dotson said about food safety and handling.
Hagen said she wanted Cottage Food to be a division providing an outlet for people who are interested in food entrepreneurship – food for sale and learning the ins and outs while receiving food safety training ahead of time.
Those who participate in the new Cottage Food division are required to take one virtual class before they submit a product at the expo.
“I want you to know the basics of food handling, washing your hands — it’s about a 30-minute class to go over the basic state program, Cottage Food,” Hagen said, adding that they will then be released.
She said they can cook such things as sugar cookies and enter them into the expo. From there, Hagen will look at the entry to make sure the cookies are packaged correctly, labeled with the name, address and the statement that shares “made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida’s food safety regulations.”
“I want them to have food safety knowledge. They present their items, I tell them what they have done right, improve on and (provide) assistance. That is part of the judging,” she said. “Did they follow the right procedure to be able to sell the food to the general public and be successful.”
The Southwest Florida Ag Expo will be held from Feb. 27 through March 9 at the Lee County Civic Center complex, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.
For more information, visit swflagexpo.com.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com