selling syrup at farmer markets?

[asknupp]

Question is are there regulations to abide by if I was to sell syrup at a roadside farmers market?

[maple marc]

Here in Ohio we are fortunate to have little regulation. I was just reading the PA thread--ouch! Here in Ohio, go for it. Apparently there is some random sampling for lead issues, but that is it. Count your blessings!

But please.......don't give it away at the markets. Over in Champaign County it seems there is an excess of syrup--$12 a quart in plastic!?! As the syrup marketing gurus will tell you--don't compete on price. Someone will always be cheaper. Have some pride in your product.

[maple marc]

PS...you do need to provide an adequate label, including your name, address, and batch code.

[happy thoughts]

Here in Ohio we are fortunate to have little regulation. I was just reading the PA thread--ouch!

That's what I say. Up until a few years ago it wasn't that way. Producers that sold below a few thousand dollars of syrup were exempt from licensing.

You should have seen what they tried to do to farmers markets a few years ago that would have put most markets out of business- licensing for all sellers, requiring a hot water sink for every stall, and no more ice coolers allowed but refrigeration needed. They ended up backing off of a lot of it due to the backlash from growers and sellers but the regs are still pretty rigorous compared to most states. It's no wonder maple isn't the big business here that it could be. You need a good chunk of change just to get started here. Now I just need to win the lottery....

[Bruce L]

Consider yourselves lucky that you are not in Canada!!!!!!!!!! You would need 3 working sinks with hot and cold water, no precooking of anything as they haven't seen how it was handled. Most all of the church dinners got shut down this way since parishioners couldn't bring in their foods or deserts since an inspector wasn't present when they prepared or packaged the food. Refrigerators have to have a thermometer in them with records indicating that the temperature never rose too high, and on and on and on!!!!!!!!!!

[asknupp]

Thanks Marc. I'll consider Ohioans lucky in that aspect as far as being regulated. I'm using mason jars so if I put my information on the lid with a sharpie is that adequate enough? Or should it be an actual printed sticker type label?

[bamboozled]

http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/901%3A3-45


LAW Writer® Ohio Laws and Rules
Search OAC:
Ohio Revised Code Home Help
Route: Ohio Administrative Code » 901:3 Food Safety
Chapter 901:3-45 Maple Syrup


901:3-45-01 Voluntary grades and standards.
(A) The following grades and their corresponding standards are adopted by the Ohio department of agriculture for use by producers and processors of maple syrup. For the purpose of this rule %Tc means the percent light transmission measured with a spectrophotometer using matched square optical cells having a ten millimeter light path at a wavelength of five hundred sixty nanometers, with the color values expressed in percent of light transmission as compared to analytical reagent glycerol fixed at one hundred percent transmission.

To obtain the appendix, table, image, etc. please call LSC's ERF Helpdesk at 614-387-2078 or send an email to erfhelpdesk@lsc.state.oh.us.

(B) Any commercial color determining kit that provides an analysis of clarity and color comparable to that obtained by a spectrophotometer may be used to determine the grade listed on a label; however, in any dispute over the accuracy of a grade claim, a spectrophotometer shall be used to determine grade.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/10/2010 and 06/10/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.24
Rule Amplifies: 3715.24 , 3715.25 , 3715.59 , 3715.60
Prior Effective Dates: 5-1-98; 2-15-04

901:3-45-02 Optional ingredients.
The following ingredients may be added to maple products:

(1) Salt;

(2) Chemical preservatives; and,

(3) Defoaming agents.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/10/2010 and 06/10/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.24
Rule Amplifies: 3715.24 , 3715.25 , 3715.59 , 3715.60
Prior Effective Dates: 12/01/1997

901:3-45-03 Labeling.
(A) Any producer or processor whose maple syrup conforms to a standard for an Ohio grade other than Commercial or Substandard may place the grade name on the package label. The legend shall be stylized: "Ohio Grade _______," and include the full grade name listed in rule 901:3-45-01 [901:3-45-01] of the Administrative Code.

(B) No grade may be placed on a package label unless the maple syrup has first been tested by one of the methods in paragraph (B) of rule 901:3-45-01 of the Administrative Code.

(C) Any optional ingredients permitted under rule 901-3-45-02 of the Administrative Code, when used, shall be listed on the package label.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/10/2010 and 06/10/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.24
Rule Amplifies: 3715.24 , 3715.25 , 3715.59 , 3715.60
Prior Effective Dates: 5-1-98; 2-15-04

901:3-45-04 Packaging and fill.
(A) All packaging shall be:

(1) Except as specified in paragraph (B) of this rule, clean prior to filling, and free of water at the time of filling;

(2) Free from rust on food contact surfaces and not contain any substances or be constructed from any material which could damage either the color or flavor of maple syrup;

(3) Constructed with an air tight closing mechanism;

(4) Filled with not less than ninety per cent of their capacity.

(B) Canning containers designed for reuse shall be washed and sanitized prior to refilling. Closures shall not be reused.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/10/2010 and 06/10/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.24
Rule Amplifies: 3715.24 , 3715.25 , 3715.59
Prior Effective Dates: 5-1-98; 2-15-04

901:3-45-05 Bulk Containers.
Barrels, drums, and other similar bulk containers used to store or ship maple syrup shall:

(A) Be in good condition and constructed to provide an easily cleanable surface;

(B) Be cleaned and sanitized prior to filling, and free of water at the time of filling; and

(C) Not be used if it has:

(1) Previously contained a chemical or other hazardous material including lead or lead-based paint,

(2) A food-contact surface that is rusted, or

(3) Lead solder on the food-contact surface.

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 06/10/2010 and 06/10/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3715.24
Rule Amplifies: 3715.24 , 3715.25 , 3715.59
Prior Effective Dates: 2-15-04

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901:3-45-01 Voluntary grades and standards.
901:3-45-02 Optional ingredients.
901:3-45-03 Labeling.
901:3-45-04 Packaging and fill.
901:3-45-05 Bulk Containers.

[asknupp]

All right so just got off the phone with a gentleman that works as a food safety agent for Ohio. He himself is a maple syrup hobbyist. Label must read:
100% pure maple syrup
Name:
Address: if your not in the phone book.
Grade: is not mandatory. But if you do put a grade on it you must be able to prove it.

[asknupp]

And it can be as simple as writing on the lid of a mason jar.

[SevenCreeksSap]

Bamboozled, thanks for finding and posting that.

So, if using plastic syrup jugs that say pure maple syrup, with name, should be okay. I don't claim a grade, just that it's pure, which it is, so should be okay there.

Who would add salt to syrup? and why?
I always thought that anything but defoamer was basically "adulterated" so not pure maple syrup.

[happy thoughts]

Who would add salt to syrup? and why?
I always thought that anything but defoamer was basically "adulterated" so not pure maple syrup.

The salt is included in the federal regs. Many states have adopted the same language, PA included. I used to think it was weird, too until lately. Salt enhances the sweetness of sugar. Some people I know put salt on watermelon. Lately sea salt is fashionable and added to a lot of things these days to make them more marketable. Show me some salted chocolate or caramels and I'm all over them lol. Bet someone out there could market a maple syrup with Sea salt. And in most states it could still be labeled and sold as pure maple syrup. That said, I don't think the big maple producing atates like VT allow it.