Selling homemade food in Vermont
Vermont's Act 42 of 2025 lets a registered Cottage Food Operator sell up to $30,000/year of non-hazardous packaged foods, with a separate under-$10,000 Food Processor exemption available on top. It requires a free annual online training and a yearly exemption filing (due before Jan 15). TCS/perishable foods are not allowed at all. You can sell packaged products directly to consumers; Vermont doesn't publish specific online/mail-order rules, so confirm those with the Health Department.
You can sell
- Non-hazardous baked goods
- Candy
- Jams, jellies, preserves
- Dried herbs & mixes, trail mix, granola, cereal, mixed nuts
- Flavored vinegar, popcorn, coffee beans, dry tea
- Home-canned pickles/vegetables/fruits meeting pH <=4.6 or water activity <=0.85 (reviewed recipe)
You can't sell
- Any TCS / potentially hazardous food (categorically excluded from cottage food)
- Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy
- Dehydrated meats
- Unacidified low-acid canned vegetables
- Cooked plant foods, sprouts, tofu, garlic-in-oil mixes
Where you can sell
- Direct retail sale of packaged cottage food products to consumers
- Farmers markets (prepared/cooked meals need a separate Home Caterer/Temporary Food Service license)
Selling online
Cottage food operators may sell packaged products directly to consumers. Vermont does not publish explicit guidance on internet ordering or mail-order delivery, so confirm the specifics with the Dept of Health. Sale to restaurants or food-service establishments is prohibited. Vermont does not itself ban interstate shipping, but out-of-state sales are subject to federal rules and the destination state's law.
What your labels must include
- Name and address of the operation
- "Made in a home kitchen not inspected by the Vermont Department of Health." in at least 10-point type, in a color contrasting with the background
- Product name
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Net weight/volume
- Allergen information (federal standard)