We talked about how food swaps and farmers markets are driving food production to hyper-hyper local markets; well, it appears the state of California is embracing the trend, legalizing food made at home and in the process, creating thousands of jobs.
Other states have existing cottage food laws, which allow individuals to distribute and sell food made from home if they are no potential health hazards, or a a low risk of it (so no meat or seafood). Until recently, California was not one of these states. The Homemade Food act opens up every kitchen (that passes a food processor course, practices safe sanitation and proper food labeling) to become a private business. The legalization of home made goods has been met with enthusiasm, with 270 cottage food business in Los Angeles and an estimated 1,200 statewide. Permits grant either direct to consumer (and farmers market, bake sales, etc.) distribution or for third party distributers, like selling your product to a store to sell. The permits allow small scale entrepreneurs to forgo paying for a commercial kitchen, and opens up the potential for people to seek other means of revenue. With high unemployment rates and the traditional job market failing many, the additional means of making income and ease of becoming a small business, without the financial risk many restaurants or other small business face, is lucrative. If the trend continues to be embraced, it's likely we'll see a gradual growth of local and small scale production, changes in our food purchasing, new brands emerging, and a continual shift in perceptions about mass production.
ARTICLE: Forbes, January 2014
SITE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2014/01/29/california-legalized-selling-food-made-at-home-and-created-over-a-thousand-local-businesses/
