MARKHAM, Minn. (Northern News Now) – The Wirtanen Farm Fest took place recently which allowed cottage food creators to make a few bucks off the hungry crowd.
We’ve already reported that this summer’s warm temperatures led to a bumper crop in gardens and an increase in interest in home canning. And it has led to an increase in interest in cottage food licenses in Minnesota.
” I’ve always enjoyed baking and I’ve got four kids and a husband and they need to eat.” said Jamie Shermer in Markham, MN along St Louis County Highway 4.
Jamie Shermer of Hoyt Lakes is a cottage food vendor at Wirtanen Farm Fest. Those vendors don’t just sell treats willy nilly; they have to earn certification from the State of Minnesota.
“It’s all online, you just search cottage food licenses in Minnesota and it’s pretty simple.” said Shermer.
That online training teaches proper sanitation and cooking techniques. Those homemade goodies are sought after at gatherings like Wirtanen Farm according to Shasta and Edwin Diogo of Makinen, MN.
“I love the local treats and you can see I have bags and bags of them so I like the local festivals and I support the growers and bakers and makers.” said the Diogos.
Cottage food producers can produce baked goods, pickled vegetables and jams. They can sell from home, farmers markets or community gatherings like Wirtanen. Producers can earn up to 78 thousand dollars a year. Jamie’s treats don’t earn that much.
“I enjoy it, it’s not necessarily for the money, I like getting out and chatting with people and yeah!”
Michigan’s cottage food law is similar to Minnesota’s. The rules are different in Wisconsin where there are different qualifications for canned goods, baked goods and even home churned butter. There’s also a farm winery law in Minnesota that allows farmers to make and sell a certain amount of wine every year but that’s another story. In Duluth, Dave Anderson, Northern News Now.
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Dining and Cooking