Cottage Foods

What are Cottage Foods in Colorado?

A limited range of foods that are non-potentially hazardous and that do not require refrigeration. These foods are limited to spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, and baked goods, including candies.

Foods produced under this act must be sold only directly to ultimate consumers and not to grocery stores or restaurants; and must be sold only on the producer’s premises, at the producer’s roadside stand, or at a farmers’ market, community-supported agriculture organization, or similar venue where the product is sold directly to consumers.

Read the full text of the Colorado Cottage Foods Act. This act became a state law on March 15, 2012.

Food Handler Training

The Act requires “producers to be certified in safe food handling and processing by a third-party certifying entity and must maintain a status of good standing in accordance with the certifying entity practices and procedures, including attending any classes required for certification.”

Food Safety Instructor Training

Note that only certified food manager trainers (credentialed by either ServSafe® or NEHA) can offer certificates of completion to individuals for either of these food manager training programs. Obtaining a passing score and a certificate of completion is a prerequisite for cottage food producers wishing to produce value-added products allowed under Colorado’s 2012 Cottage Food Act.

  • ServSafe® certifies ServSafe® Certified Instructors. The educational and professional requirements for obtaining this level of certification are listed here for ServSafe instructors and proctors.
  • The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) offers Registered Food Safety Trainer certification. Required credentials and competencies are listed on their application page.

Resources