Local Foods

Colorado small producers kneaded the Cottage Food Law

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By all accounts, Monica Wiitanen, Western Colorado Congress member and Paonia farmer and baker, led the successful effort to legalize the sale of homemade goods in our state.  Monica’s home baked bread has been in demand from friends and family for decades but it was illegal for small producers to sell homemade goods.

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WCC Member Monica Wiitanen looks on as Governor Hickenlooper signs SB 12-048.

Monica and Western Colorado Congress members talked with their state legislators and in 2012, Senator Gail Schwartz introduced the legislation. The Colorado Cottage Food Act (SB12-048) sailed through the legislature with bipartisan support in 2012 and our state joined at least eighteen others that allow the sale of cottage foods.  After a year of the law in practice, Monica and WCC members returned to the legislature in 2013 (HB13-1158) to advocate for amendments to iron out a few kinks in the law, including food labels, location of sale, sale of eggs, and clarifying the food safety course requirement.

Cottage Food Law creates jobs and generates income for Coloradans

The Cottage Food Law is a commonsense measure that promotes economic development in Colorado communities, supports locally grown and prepared foods, and generates income for small producers. It invigorates and expands Colorado’s agricultural community.

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Most importantly, the Cottage Food Law fosters relationships between consumers and the producers who make fresh, healthy, locally sourced food. Click here to download the Colorado Cottage Foods Act Fact Sheet!