At-home bakers hail Wash.'s new Cottage Food Act
Saturday, May 19, 2012
SEATTLE (AP) -- Home-based bakers looking to sell cakes, cookies and other so-called "low-risk" foods should find relief in a new Washington state law.
The Cottage Food Act of Washington passed by lawmakers last year allows home-based businesses to sell certain types of foods produced in their home, rather than in a commercial kitchen.
The Seattle Times reports (http://bit.ly/KNRZHq) the law could go into effect as early as this summer. The Department of Agriculture is taking public comments on a draft rule until Tuesday. That rule allows foods such as breads, cakes, cookies, granola, nuts, jams and jellies.
Officials says more than 250 home-based businesses have expressed interested in a cottage-foods license. It estimates about 1,000 people will eventually apply. State officials would inspect home kitchens annually.
