- Your Guide to Starting a Home-Based Food Business in Hemet & San Jacinto
- What Is a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO)?
- What Is a Cottage Food Operation (CFO)?
A Cottage Food Operation (CFO) is a type of small food business in California that allows you to legally make and sell certain homemade foods directly from your home kitchen. This program is perfect for anyone wanting to sell non-perishable, low-risk foods that don’t need to be refrigerated, such as baked goods, jams, and dried snacks.
The Cottage Food Bill AB1616, also known as the California Homemade Food Act, allows certain low-risk food products to be prepared and packaged in private home kitchens in California. It was passed to help Californians recover from the slow economy, promote small-scale businesses, and create jobs.
This type of operation is called a Cottage Food Operation (CFO). It’s also known by the term Cottage Kitchen.
Key Points About Cottage Food Operations AKA Cottage Kitchens
Here’s what you need to know to run a Cottage Food Operation, also known as a Cottage Kitchen, in Riverside County:
Home-Based Business
With a Cottage Food Operation (CFO), you can legally make and package approved foods right from your own kitchen—no need to rent a commercial space. It’s a great way to start a small business from home with low costs and flexibility, so you can work around your own schedule and other commitments.
Low-Risk Foods Only
Cottage Food laws allow you to sell only certain “low-risk” foods, meaning items that don’t need to be kept cold to stay safe. Approved foods include things like cookies, cakes, jams, spice mixes, and dried pasta—basically, shelf-stable items that don’t spoil easily.
Foods that could go bad quickly, like anything with meat, dairy, or cream fillings, aren’t allowed under this law. This keeps everything simple and safe for a home kitchen setup.
Examples of Foods You Can Sell as a CFO
Approved cottage foods are low-risk and don’t require refrigeration to stay safe:
- Baked Goods: Items like cookies, cakes, muffins, bread, and brownies.
- Candies: Hard candies, chocolates (without dairy fillings), fudge, and marshmallows.
- Jams & Preserves: Fruit jams, jellies, and marmalades without added dairy.
- Dried Foods: Dried pasta, dried fruit, granola, trail mix, and dried herbs.
- Popcorn: Any variety, including caramel or flavored popcorn.
- Spice Blends: Homemade spice or seasoning mixes that don’t need refrigeration.
Note: Foods that spoil quickly or need to be kept cold or frozen, like meat, dairy products, and anything with cream or cheese, are not allowed under the Cottage Food Law.
Next up in this series: What Is a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO)?
