Selling homemade food in Montana

Allowed from a home kitchen

Sourdough bread · Cookies & brownies · Fruit pie · Pumpkin pie · Cheesecake · Cake with buttercream · Cake with cream cheese frosting · Macarons · Fruit tamales · Strawberry jam · Low-sugar or freezer jam · Pepper jelly · Shelf-stable salsa · Fresh salsa (refrigerated) · Hot sauce · Canned pickles · Granola · Spice rubs & seasoning blends · Roasted coffee · Loose-leaf tea blends · Dried fruit & fruit leather · Freeze-dried candy · Chocolates & truffles · Toffee, fudge & caramels · Marshmallows · Nut butter · Pure honey · Infused honey · Fruit-infused vinegar · Mustard (no egg) · Home-cooked meals

Needs a commercial kitchen or other license

Vanilla extract · Beef jerky

Ask the agency first

Meat tamales · Sauerkraut & kimchi · Canned tomato sauce · Garlic or herb-infused oil · Cheese & yogurt · Cold-pressed juice · Kombucha

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.

Limited sources: the detailed rules for Montana rely on 2022 state guidance. Confirm with the state agency.

How to start

1. Under the Montana Local Food Choice Act, you can sell homemade food directly to an informed end consumer without licensing, inspection, or labeling.
2. Sell only in Montana, for home consumption or at traditional community events like farmers markets. Market managers may set their own requirements.
3. Tell each buyer that the food hasn't been licensed, permitted, certified, packaged, labeled, or inspected.
4. No health claims. Meat and poultry follow Department of Livestock rules; alcohol and THC products follow their own laws.

Key label items

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

• Disclosure to the buyer
• No health claims
• Recommended: your name, contact, ingredients, and allergens