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Getting Started: Making or Selling Food Made from Your Farm Products

Thinking about using your farm fresh products to make or prepare food items? Use these checklists to get you started when it comes to licenses, regulations and permits.

Land Use Regulations

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  • Read through the zoning regulations for your municipality and familiarize yourself with Act 143. To determine if your agritourism addition meets the specifications of Act 143, you can use the above guide.
    • Obtain a zoning permit, if necessary.
    • Determine if your municipality requires a site plan review.
    • Submit an application and site plan review to your municipality, if necessary.

Licenses

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The following table can help you navigate the regulations and licenses required for various types of foods and products that you may be selling or serving.

  • If you are selling wholesale, follow regulations listed below.
  • If you are producing and serving food regularly, then you may need licensing from the agency for food processing, as well as separate licensing for food service from the Department of Health.
  • If you are using products from your farm to make any of these products (for example, jams) then you should follow any regulations listed below for those products.
Food ProductExamplesAgency with OversightPermits/Licenses that Apply

Dairy

Milk, cheese

Phone: 802-828-2421

  • License based on volume per day,

Frozen Dessert

Ice cream, sorbet

Phone: 802-828-2421

  • A retail license may be needed,

Baked Goods

Pastries, bread, cake

Vermont Department of Health, Bakery Section

Phone 802-863-7221

  • If sales are under $6,500, you may be able to
  • If you don't meet the criteria for exemption, you'll need to .

Meat

Sliced deli meat, sausages, whole meat cuts

Phone: 802-828-2426

  • A meat handlers operation license will be necessary. .
  • HACCP plan may also be required.

Processed Food

Candy, popcorn, jellies, ciders

Vermont Department of Health

Phone: 802-863-7221

  • You will need a food processing establishment license. .
  • There is .

Canned Goods

Fruits, meat

Vermont Department of Health for fruit and vegetables and Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for meat

Phone (Department of Health): 802-863-7221

Phone (VAAFM): 802-828-2426

  • Falls under the Cottage Food Law.
  • Processing vegetables may fall under processed foods.
  • There is .

Malt and Vinous Beverages

Wine, beer, spirits, cider, mead

Department of liquor control enforcement and licensing division

Contact: 802-828-2345

  • You will need a certain license depending on your situation (if you are manufacturing alcohol, selling it, etc.). .

Maple Syrup

Syrup, sugar

Phone: 802-828-2430

  • If you will be selling more than 1,000 gallons of maple syrup from a farm that is not your own, .

General Produce

Tomatoes, corn, squash

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Phone: 802-461-5128

  • can provide you with additional resources and support to ensure you are meeting all regulations and requirements.

Strawberries

 

Vermont Statutes

Phone: 802-828-2430
Email: AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov

  • If they do not come directly from your farm, you will want to .

Eggs

 

Vermont Statutes

Phone: 802-828-2430
Email: AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov

  • .

Potatoes

 

Vermont Statutes

Phone: 802-828-2430
Email: AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov

  • .

Apples

 

Vermont Statutes

Phone: 802-828-2430
Email: AGR.Helpdesk@vermont.gov

  • .

Additional Resources

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