"As you know I have been working on getting a Cottage Food Act implemented in Florida so we can have our own Home Baking Business. Well, yesterday I received an email from the Department of Agriculture telling me that they sent me a copy of the recommendations that former Commissioner Charles Bronson sent to the speaker of the house. Unfortunately, this was for the other law Florida Freedom Food Act for the farmers of our state. But, they also said that the Cottage Food Act is a huge topic within the Dept of Agriculture. So I thought there was hope.
When I heard about the Commissioner sending his recommendations to the
Speaker of the House, I decided to send Speaker Dean Cannon an email too. He
did in fact email me back which I sent a copy of that email to all of you.
Than I sent everyone that is on his committee an email too. Well, today I
received a phone call from Teddy Cramer who is on the committee for the Speaker
of the House. Teddy called me because she wanted to verify exactly what we
were wanting. I explained that we wanted to be able to have a small business
from our homes selling baked goods to the consumer. If we have to be inspected
and licensed than that is what we will do, but, requiring a separate kitchen
from our living quarters and a 3 compartment sink was a bit much. Well, she
told me that the committee and the speaker are going to submit to the senate
that we are exempt from all requirements. Meaning we can bake from home and
won't need to be licensed or inspected. Teddy was so excited that I brought
this to Speaker Dean Cannons attention because no one on the committee knew it
was illegal to bake from home and sell to the public and that bake sales would
be illegal. I told her we have a House Rep working on this for us but, was
trying to find another State Rep to sponsor the bill and she said that this
wasn't necessary because this is being submitted by the Speaker of the House to
the senate. Once the Senate reviews the Speakers recommendations and approves
it than it goes to the Govenor to sign into law.
I asked her when will Legislation go back into session and she said in
March. She said she will call me with updates and if I don't hear from her in
the next couple of weeks to call here anytime."
How exciting is this for home bakers? I'd say VERY!!! Can't wait to hear more updates in the future! If I do, I will post about it here.
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