Kankakee Times

In a recent Facebook post, state Rep. Jason Bunting (R-Dwight) highlighted changes in the laws for cottage food businesses in Illinois.

“New Illinois law brings big changes for Cottage Food businesses,” he said in the post.

A new state law, the Home-to-Market Act, has instituted big changes for cottage food businesses. The legislation, also known as SB2007, went into effect in August 2021.

The law clarifies what cottage food operations had to comply with, adds requirements for cottage food operations to sell low-acid canned foods and fermented or acidified foods, and allows food and drink from cottage food operations to be sold directly to consumers for consumption.

The Institute for Justice considers looks at food law in Illinois. It notes that Illinois cottage food producers must register each year with local health departments and pay an annual fee. But home inspections are not required, although they could happen if there is an outbreak of foodborne illness or consumer complaint. Food handler training is required, although recipe approval or lab testing is only required for baked goods made with cheese or acidified and fermented foods.

Kelly Lay, a representative of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, spoke with the Illinois Newsroom about the Home-to-Market Act. She stressed how significant the recent change is for the community.

“It’s huge,” Lay said. “Anywhere that a cottage food business owner can get in front of you, they can sell to you.” This is in contrast to how current farmers markets operate.

The Home-to-Market Act introduced a new selling market due to its enhanced accessibility. The reform allows licensed producers to now sell directly to consumers out of their own homes. Sellers can also operate at fairs and festivals as well as in roadside stands. An additional opportunity the new law allows is in-state shipping and deliveries.

Lay noted that there are people who do not have many opportunities to set up shop without bank loans. She pointed out that now it is possible to start a business using just the contents of one’s own kitchen cabinets.

“It’s difficult for rural people, and people from disadvantaged communities, to take out those giant loans and to leverage everything into a dream like that," she said. "Cottage food lets you build your business from (the) ground up.”