Selling homemade food in Kentucky

Allowed from a home kitchen

Sourdough bread · Cookies & brownies · Fruit pie · Strawberry jam · Granola · Spice rubs & seasoning blends · Loose-leaf tea blends · Dried fruit & fruit leather · Freeze-dried candy · Chocolates & truffles · Toffee, fudge & caramels

Home kitchen, with a special license or program

Low-sugar or freezer jam · Pepper jelly · Shelf-stable salsa · Hot sauce · Canned pickles · Canned tomato sauce · Fruit-infused vinegar

Needs a commercial kitchen or other license

Pumpkin pie · Cheesecake · Cake with cream cheese frosting · Meat tamales · Fresh salsa (refrigerated) · Vanilla extract · Garlic or herb-infused oil^‡ · Home-cooked meals^‡ · Beef jerky^‡ · Cheese & yogurt^‡ · Cold-pressed juice^‡ · Kombucha^‡

Ask the agency first

Cake with buttercream · Macarons · Fruit tamales · Sauerkraut & kimchi · Roasted coffee · Marshmallows · Nut butter · Pure honey · Infused honey · Mustard (no egg)

Every product has conditions, such as registration, training, labeling, and sales limits. See the full guide for each one. ‡ General rule; not specifically addressed in this state's guidance.

How to start

1. Check that the product is shelf-stable and on the home-based processor list.
2. Register each year with the Food Safety Branch ($50).
3. Sell in Kentucky from home, farmers markets, certified roadside stands, and community events. No shipping, and no stores or restaurants.
4. Label every product.

Key label items

Use the exact required wording shown in the full guide and on the agency's site.

• “This product is home-produced and processed” in 10-point type
• Common name of the product
• Name and address of the processing operation
• Net weight, volume, or count
• Date processed
• Ingredients in descending order by weight
• Allergen information