The Cottage Cause.

I think I may have found a project. I was doing my thing on Saturday night waiting tables at Fino and had the lovely pleasure of serving Carol Ann and Larry from Boggy Creek Farms. Not only were they a pleasure in general- a truly kind and "Texas" couple but we got to talking about my jam-making adventures. Not only did they become my new best friends over conversation of canning methods and types of jars and lids, Carol Ann brought a cause to my attention-  Cottage Food laws and the Texas Baker's Bill. What are these laws you ask? Well, let me tell you...

What these laws pertain to is allowing low-risk food items such as baked goods, dried herbs, acids, vinegars, jams, and jellies to be made without the use of a commercial kitchen. As some of you know and some of you may not, selling jam or homemade goods is completely illegal without using a kitchen that can meet state and city Health Department requirements. This means that when you want to make a little cash or start an entrepreneurial endeavor, you need a whole lot of money to rent out a commercial space. You also need a whole lot of money to get it inspected and approved, to have the licensing to start a business in order to get that space, and not to mention all the other expenses that you need in order to just make your product. And you know what? You don't even know if your product will sell or how much, how your business is going to run, and a you only have a pretty vague estimate on your market research. Don't even think you can get YOUR kitchen approved by the state health department. It's a major renovation and upwards of thousands of dollars.

SO what this bill will do is make it LEGAL for bread, cakes, cookies, and jams (like spiced blueberry and the shortbread to go with it) to sell when it's made from your own kitchen.

Why should you support this? This bill, if passed, would allow me and many others to become small business owners without the high overhead and start-up costs. It would allow these small business owners to learn their market, food costs, clientele, and basic business model in a trial-and-error basis without the huge debt risk. In turn, it would allow a lot people to make some extra income where they need it. Then maybe these small business ideas turn into something bigger and start employing people. Hello stimulated economy.

As far as the health risk- you have just as much if not more chances of catching food-borne illness from big companies than you do someone's kitchen. Though with this you can be face-to-face with those making your food who can tell you who grew and made their ingredients. If you still don't feel comfortable, it will labeled so and you don't have to buy it.

There you have it my friends. This will not be the last you hear of this on my blog. Bills have been passed like this in many other states and I would just love for it to be passed in Texas in too. Hey NY/NJ friends, you could be next.

It is currently HB1139 and HB2084. They have both been filed and introduced and waiting on a committee hearing.

You can learn more here: http://texascottagefoodlaw.com/
and follow all current news here: http://www.facebook.com/TexasBakersBill

Phew. Anyway, if you've read this far, I think you're lovely.