As a cottage food producer, you must follow the Cottage Foods Exemption law labeling requirements.
Cottage food safety in Minnesota
The Minnesota cottage food law allows individual producers to make and sell certain non-potentially hazardous food and canned goods without a license.
Extension provides training and resources to help cottage food producers feel confident that their products are safe to sell.
All cottage food producers must register annually with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before they can sell their foods. Registrations expire annually and must be renewed to continue your cottage food business.
14,116
# of Minnesota cottage food producers in 2025
87
# of counties in Minnesota with cottage food producers
$78,000
Annual gross sales limit for Tier 2 producers
Cottage food registration levels
There are two registration levels — Tier 1 and Tier 2 — based on gross annual sales.
Tier 1
- Gross annual sales less than $7,665.
- Cottage food producers with less than $7,665 in gross annual sales can complete free online training through the or the .
- Registration with the MDA is free for Tier 1 cottage food producers.
- There is no cost for this training.
Tier 2
- Gross annual sales of $7,665 to $78,000.
- This Tier 2 online, self-paced course is offered through the University of Minnesota Extension.
- Cottage food producers with $7,665 to $78,000 in gross annual sales are required to complete a cottage food producer food safety training every three years.
- A Tier 2 license includes a $50 registration fee.
Cottage Foods Safety Hour: Ask the experts
Minnesota cottage foods producers and farmers market managers are invited every month to attend a virtual Cottage Foods Safety Hour to hear a short presentation and then ask Extension educators questions.
Submit questions in advance by emailing [email protected].
Resources
Testing water activity in cottage foods
The Cottage Food Exemption Law requires that cottage food products have a water activity level of 0.85 or lower.
Safe food product sampling and demonstrations
Food sampling and cooking demonstrations are a legal way to promote your food business without a license.
When can you use fresh, cut fruit?
Fresh or raw, cut fruit is a potentially hazardous food because it requires refrigeration to prevent the growth of bacteria that may cause illness when eaten.
Using a pH meter to test cottage foods
The final (equilibrium) of canned or bottled acidic and acidified foods must be 4.60 or less.
Preserving food using hot-fill hold
Hot-fill hold is a preservation method used to ensure that food products are both safe and shelf-stable. This technique is ideal for foods with a smooth consistency and a pH of 4.1 or lower, such as barbecue sauce.
Preserving food using cold-fill hold
Cold-fill hold is especially valuable for those who wish to process foods that may lose quality if exposed to high heat before bottling, such as mustard or certain sauces. This method is also ideal for products packaged in materials that cannot withstand high temperatures.
New registration renewal dates in 2026
The MDA has updated the 2026 renewal period. Beginning in 2026, the registration period will be April 1 through March 31 of each year. To support this transition, all 2025 registrations will be automatically extended through March 31, 2026. This creates a one-time, 15-month registration period. If you have a 2025 registration, you will automatically remain registered until March 31, 2026, even if your card lists a different date.
Look out for renewal notices from the MDA by mid-February 2026. If you have registration and renewal questions, please contact [email protected] or visit the MDA Cottage Food Producer Registration webpage.
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Have a question abou? Contact Autumn Stoll at [email protected].
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