One measure that everyone in the room got behind was The Texas Cottage Food Law, aka the “Bake Sale Bill.” We discussed this issue with Ag Commish Todd Staples and Senator Whitmire last week.
Such a law would allow home cooks to sell cakes, cookies, preserves and a few other select items at bake sales, farmer’s markets and roadside stands by exempting certain items from Health Department regulations. Aside from serving as an incubator for, say, jam-makers to pump out a few jars before pursuing a full-fledged commercial business, Paige Hill of Urban Patchwork pointed out that it would also allow farmers to utilize fruits and vegetables that are currently going to waste.
Even if Rodriguez doesn’t file the Texas Cottage Food Law bill himself, he noted that three or four other members are also on board to help small-scale food producers work out of their home kitchens. With enough food community support, we might just see little ‘ol ladies slanging their pies by the side of the road once again.
Contact your state rep and tell them what you think of regulations that outlaw homemade cookies. When this bill comes to a vote in the next session, we’ll see who is really in favor of getting the government off our backs. Visit Texas Cottage Food Law onlineheadquarters and see what else you can do to help.
-Katie Walsh
Please support the Bake Sale Bill.
Texas NEEDS this bill. It will create new jobs thereby helping Texas economy! Support the Texas Cottage Food Law!
Please pass this bill!!
I would like to do a limited amount of custom wedding cakes and it is just not plasible to open my own business. When I rent a commercial kitchen, it costs so much that it is not the answer either. If we could make a certain amount, maybe not more than $15-20,000 per year, that would work. If you are going to make more than that, you would want to open your own business and could afford it. The passing of this bill would help everyone; especially the state.