Is selling it legal

[GCunningham]

Hello again everybody. I am getting confused. Is it legal to sell from my door (sign out front) and to friends and relatives? Do I need a license and visits from the FDA? I love making it but if I can't make a couple bucks it's an aweful expensive hobby.I filed a DBA at the court house and use it as a write off at tax time but am I doing this legal like?

[happy thoughts]

It's not the FDA but the state that regulates maple licensing so it's going to depend on the laws in your state.. As I remember from these boards last year, Michigan at least used to allow some exemptions for certain home made products but required special labeling. I found this page about it but can't tell you if that info is still correct since I don't live in MI.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-50772_45851-240577--,00.html

If I were you, I'd contact your state Ag department for all the current maple laws just to make sure of where you stand. There should be contact info on the linked page. You can probably slide selling just to friends and family but putting a sign out front may attract a state inspector. As they say, better safe than sorry.

[red maples]

put this one in tapping MI. its different in every state.

[Cake O' Maple]

If your sales are less than $15,000, and you follow the rules listed under the maple and honey exemptions to the Cottage Industry laws (section E, but it doesn't hurt to read it all), you are good to go. Make sure everything is food-grade, clean and sanitized, etc. You do not need a license or inspection, but if someone has reason to suspect you are not up to snuff, they reserve the right to inspect.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,1607,7-125-50772_45851-240577--,00.html

Any questions, call your local ag agent.

[buckeye gold]

Yes you can sell it in Ohio.It has an exemption in the cottage foods category. You just need to label it correctly. Go to Dept of Agriculture and search cottage foods and or Maple syrup. Also check with Ohio Maple Producers Association. I'll try to post a link later, but I'm boiling and got to get back to the evaporator. There are still best practices for packaging. You must use new bottles, jugs, ect. and package hot. a lot of people use mason jars, but I don't think they are appropriate for retail.

GTG