Selling homemade food in North Carolina
North Carolina's Home Processor program is one of the more generous in the country: no sales cap and a wide range of channels including retail and even restaurants - but unlike most cottage-food states, NC actually requires your kitchen to pass a real NCDA&CS inspection first (no fee, but plan on an 8-12 week wait). Stick to shelf-stable foods; anything needing refrigeration or freezing is off-limits.
You can sell
- Baked goods (no refrigeration needed)
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Candy, freeze-dried candy
- Dried herbs & spice mixes
- Shelf-stable liquids (iced tea, lemonade, coffee)
- Shelf-stable sauces/dressings
- Acid and acidified foods e.g. relishes, vinegar-based BBQ sauce (may require an extra safety course + lab testing)
You can't sell
- Refrigerated or frozen products
- Low-acid canned goods
- Dairy products
- Seafood
- Bottled water/juice
- Bakery items with cream or cream-cheese fillings
Where you can sell
- Direct to consumer (pickup, delivery, special events)
- Farmers markets
- Retail stores
- Restaurants/local businesses (wholesale)
- Online ordering (not explicitly named on NCDA&CS's own page, but not prohibited and consistently described as allowed by industry guides - confirm with your inspector before building a storefront)
Selling online
NCDA&CS's official Home Processor page does not explicitly call out "online sales" as its own channel, but nothing in the rules prohibits it and multiple independent guides describe online ordering plus in-state delivery/shipping as allowed once your kitchen passes inspection. Broader channels most cottage food laws forbid - retail stores, restaurants, wholesale - are also open here, which is unusual.
What your labels must include
- Product name
- Manufacturer's name & address
- Net weight (oz/lb, with gram equivalent)
- Complete ingredient list in order of predominance by weight
- Allergens listed or in a separate "Contains" statement
- Note: NCDA&CS does not require a specific "made in a home kitchen" disclosure sentence on the label - unlike many other states' cottage food laws