Wholesale

Wholesale

Sales through a "cottage food vendor"

COTTAGE FOOD VENDORS

  • Must register with DSHS (free, fast, and online).
  • It is the 3rd party seller that must register with DSHS as a “cottage food vendor”, not the cottage food producer.
  • The cottage food vendor and the cottage food producer must have a contractual relationship (contracts do not need to be in writing).
  • Cottage food vendors must sell food directly to the consumer at a farmer’s market, farm stand, food service establishment (restaurant), or any retail store.
  • The cottage food vendor must display in a prominent place near the location where the food is offered for sale a sign with the following disclosure “THIS PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL LICENSING OR INSPECTION.” (yes, the sign must be in all caps like the statute.)
  • Any food you are selling through the cottage food vendor must include on the label the date the food was made.
  • Cottage foods MAY be served in a restaurant, provided the cottage food vendor complies with the signage requirement above, and provides the label information to the consumer.

EXAMPLES OF FOOD YOU CAN SELL THROUGH A COTTAGE FOOD VENDOR

  • Baked goods not requiring refrigeration
  • Jams and jellies
  •  Candy
  • Coated and uncoated nuts
  • Fruit butters, jams, and jellies with a pH of 4.6 or less
  • Fruit pies and pecan pies
  • Popcorn, cereal, granola, trail mix, snack mix
  • Canned, acidified salsa with a pH of 4.6 or less
  • Pickled fruits and vegetables with a pH of 4.6 or less
  • Fermented vegetables with a pH of 4.6 or less
  • Roasted coffee or dry tea
  • Dry mixes
  • Marshmallow cereal treats
  • Dried pasta
  • Pretzels
  • Tortillas
  • Doughnuts
  • Cake balls
  • Maple syrup/cane syrup
  • Vanilla extract
  • Unroasted nut butters
  • Ghee
  • Energy/protein bars
  • Dehydrated fruits and vegetables
  • Mustard
  • Vinegar
  • Hot cocoa drink mix
  • Dried herbs/spice mixes
  • Dried soup mixes
  • Seasoned salt
  • Trail mix
  • Fudge and divinity
  • Cookie kits (cookies + icing + sprinkles)
  • Dry pancake/waffle/baking mix
  • Pineapple upside-down cake
  • Freeze-dried foods that don’t contain meat
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Wholesale FAQ

Q1. Can a restaurant actually serve my food, or does the food have to stay in its package?

A: We are still working with DSHS to come up with an agreed-upon interpretation of the wholesale rules.

Q2: Can a restaurant use my cottage food as an ingredient in their food?

A: We are still working with DSHS to come up with an agreed-upon interpetation of the wholesale rules.

Q3: Can a cottage food vendor ship the cottage food product or have it delivered by UberEats or similar delivery drivers?

A: No, the food must be for sale at a farmer’s market, farm stand, food service establishment (restaurant), or any retail store.

Q4. Can I ship my cottage food product to a cottage food vendor for them to sell it at their location?

A: No, the food must be personally delivered to the cottage food vendor. 

Q5: Does the vendor have to buy the food from me up front, or can they pay me a share after they sell it, like a consignment arrangement? 

A: Both are acceptable under the cottage food vendor rules; it totally depends on whatever arrangement you and the cottage food vendor work out. 

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