Minnesota Cottage Food Industry: Insights from Extension Food Safety Education

Abstract

The cottage food industry has become a significant part of the food supply in Minnesota, most likely as a result of the growing consumer demand for locally produced, minimally processed and value-added foods. Using post-training evaluations, we characterized the cottage food producers in Minnesota and assessed the impact of our food safety course. The results showed that the producers are mostly white women (71%), producing and selling a variety of products. The learners gained knowledge to safely produce and handle homemade food products for direct sale to consumers. Majority (80%) of the learners were satisfied with the course.

Produce Safety Alliance Training: Long-Term Behavioral Change Study in the North Central Region

“…For example, two indicated they were fully or partially covered by FSMA but also indicated they sold less than $25,000 per year of produce, although any grower who sells less than $25,000 per year of produce is not covered by FSMA. In a study evaluating produce farmers in Minnesota, Omolo (12) noted this lack of synergy as well and suggested that it may be as a result of challenges in understanding the exemption criteria for the FSMA PSR.…”