Can you bake at home and sell the baked goods to a restaurant in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, home bakers are allowed to sell their baked goods to restaurants under the Cottage Food Law. This law allows individuals to produce and sell certain non-potentially hazardous foods from their home kitchens without having to obtain a food processing license. However, there are certain requirements and limitations that must be met in order to legally sell baked goods to restaurants under this law.

Requirements

* The home baker must register with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and obtain a Cottage Food Operation permit.

* The home kitchen must be inspected and approved by the NCDA&CS before any baked goods can be sold.

* All baked goods must be labeled with the name and address of the home baker, the date of production, and the ingredients used.

* Baked goods must be sold directly to the consumer or to a restaurant or other food establishment. They cannot be sold through a retail store or other third-party vendor.

Limitations

* The total gross sales of cottage food products cannot exceed $20,000 per year.

* Only certain types of non-potentially hazardous foods can be sold under the Cottage Food Law. This includes baked goods such as cakes, cookies, breads, and muffins. It does not include potentially hazardous foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or foods that require refrigeration.

If you are interested in selling baked goods to a restaurant in North Carolina, it is important to familiarize yourself with the Cottage Food Law and meet all of the requirements and limitations. You can find more information about the Cottage Food Law on the NCDA&CS website.