Meeting And Drawing

One more week until our next Guild meeting. And because of all the excitement surrounding the new classes starting, along with the Cottage Food Law being passed, (and just because she's a nice lady) our President, Jane, is offering a wonderful promotion for our members!

I'm sure you've seen the classes, and had your eye on your favorites. So, would you like to take one and save 50% off the class price? How, you ask? It's very simple...come to our SAGNFL meeting next Thursday. What a simple way to save money!

Every member that comes to our meeting will be entered into a drawing where the winner will receive 50% off a one-day class of their choice (excluding special guest instructor classes). She's also offering an additional entry for each class you sign up for, no limit!

Join us next week for a good time, 

some tasty treats, and the drawing!

Counting Down, 9 Days Until...

Yesterday was a historic day in the cake world, 

at least for us here in Florida! 

Governor Rick Scott signed the bill that allows (i.e. makes it LEGAL) for us to bake and sell cakes and other goodies from our homes effective July 1st! 

There are, of course, going to be requirements and restrictions. This is what we know so far, taken from the bill itself...

1. Annual gross sales of cottage food products can not exceed $15,000

2. A cottage food operation may not sell or offer for sale cottage food products over the Internet, by mail order, or at wholesale. (However, you can have a website to advertise and showcase your products.)

3. A cottage food operation may only sell cottage food products which are prepackaged with a label affixed that contains the following information:

(a) The name and address of the cottage food operation.
(b) The name of the cottage food product.
(c) The ingredients of the cottage food product, in descending order of predominance by weight.

(d) The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product.

(e) Allergen information as specified by federal labeling requirements.

(f) If any nutritional claim is made, appropriate nutritional information as specified by federal labeling requirements.
(g) The following statement printed in at least 10-point type in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background of the label: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations."

4. A cottage food operation may only sell cottage food products that it stores on the premises of the cottage food operation.

5. This section does not exempt a cottage food operation from any state or federal tax law, rule, regulation, or certificate that applies to all cottage food operations.

6. A cottage food operation must comply with all applicable county and municipal laws and ordinances regulating the preparation, processing, storage, and sale of cottage food products by a cottage food operation or from a person's residence.

7.(a) The department may investigate any complaint which alleges that a cottage food operation has violated an applicable provision of this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter.

(b) Only upon receipt of a complaint, the department's authorized officer or employee may enter and inspect the premises of a cottage food operation to determine compliance with this chapter and department rules, as applicable. A cottage food operation's refusal to permit the department's authorized officer or employee entry to the premises or to conduct the inspection is grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to s. 500.121.

8. This section does not apply to a person operating under a food permit issued pursuant to s. 500.12.

*For any additional information, please contact the Department of Agriculture after the effective date.

This is amazing!!! It opens new doors for all of us, while allowing us to make a little (or a lot of) extra money, which is always good!

One of the added benefits of making a little extra dough (pun intended), is that you can take classes to learn advanced techniques and up your skill level. This knowledge puts you a step ahead with your customers and allows you to make extra money from them in return, making the classes pay for themselves! 

There are various classes throughout the country and Florida, but traveling can get costly. If you want to learn in the Jacksonville area, your only option is the SAGNFL classes, hosted by our President, Jane! She features a different class or two each month. For the full list of classes, check our our Class Schedule.

Good luck to everyone out there 

in their new, legal caking adventures!!! 

Next Up...Petit Fours

Our first cake class was successful!

Patrice led a hands-on class showing 

how to make her beautiful masks.

If you weren't there, you missed out on an amazing time!

But don't worry...there is another class coming up next month.

Jane will be teaching you how to make Jeweled Petit Fours that will look like these...

Beautiful, right? 

I know they look perfect, and maybe a bit intimidating. 

But don't be scared...

Jane will show you the easy way to make 

delicious and gorgeous petit fours!

The class will take place on July 9th and costs $75. 

All the supplies are included, 

but please bring a box to carry your mini treasures home with you!

As for all the classes, 

please contact Jane to sign up or get additional information.

Jacksonville Cake Classes!

Some very exciting news...

Jacksonville is welcoming new, monthly cake classes! 

A HUGE thanks goes to our President, Jane, for igniting an educational spark in the cake community! Many of us got our start in the cake world with Wilton, but these classes are taking it a step (or a few leaps) further. Once you have learned the basics, head on over to Jane's Sugar Art Classes to continue your cake education. Not only will you learn some amazing new skills, but you'll also have a bunch of fun! 

For the complete list of classes,
check out the "Class Schedule" tab.

The first class starts this weekend, an awesome Mask class, taught by our own SAGNFL member, Patrice Drinkard. I've recently posted about her and her outstanding sugar art work here, when she won the Grand Prize at the I.C.E.D. Cake Competition for Professional Wedding Accessories. You can check out some more of Patrice's work on her website. Don't miss out on learning from this talented professional! 

Sign up for your class (or classes) now!

Thanks to all the ladies that joined us last night, including a new member that read about our Guild in the Mandarin Newsline!

For last night's meeting, we decided to experiment with rice/wafer paper. We started with flowers and made our way to feathers. We cut, punched, and dipped the night away. Here are how some of the members' feathers turned out...

They were all beautiful and, just like real feathers, each one was unique!

We hope to see some cakes in the future that use these new skills.

If you couldn't make it to the meeting, but still want to try out this technique, you can follow the same instructions we did, found here.

And for the flowers, you can check our Chef Rubber's site and click on the "Contemporary Introduction to Wafer Paper Molding" booklet. Just a warning, Lisa makes it sound and look a lot easier than it is!

Good luck on all your wafer paper adventures and 

hope to see you all at our June meeting!

New Classes Coming to Jax

Our President, Jane has informed me that there a a few new classes coming to our area!

First up, Sidney Galpern, from Simi Cakes and Confections, will be teaching 3 isomalt classes on Saturday, June 11. They will be:

Class 1:  Casting Isomalt, Including Gems 10-12pm
Class 2:  Sculpted and Pulled Sugar: Vines, Roses, Calla Lilies 12:15-2:15
Class 3:  Spun Sugar and Blown Bubbles 3-5pm

All of the tools and supplies needed for these classes are provided. 

The cost is $60 each or $150 for all three classes

We were lucky enough to attend a couple of these classes in Melbourne recently. Sidney may be young, but she sure is talented! And a wonderful teacher too. If isomalt is something you've been wanting to try, now's the time. But hurry, these classes fill up fast!

The very next day, Patrice Drinkard will be teaching an awesome, hands-on Mask class!

The class fee is $75. 

Both of these classes will be held at 4237 Salisbury Road.  

More details will be coming soon!

If you have any questions about either of these classes, please contact Jane.

Q and A

For those of you that may have questions about the Cottage Food Act that recently passed, I'll post another email from Barbara Schmal.

She says,

"First of all thank you so much for all the kind words.  I am glad I was able to help get the Cottage Food Act passed in Florida.  It appears there is still confusion what is allowed and what isn't allowed for you to do.  I copied the bill as it states on the Senate website.  Everything in RED Bold is what you need to follow.  Once the bill becomes effective in July, if you have any questions you will need to contact one of the following departments: Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Business and Professional Regulations and Dept of Health.

 

What it comes down to is.

 

1,  NO Licensing NO Inspections of our kitchens (unless there is a compliant).

2.  Gross Sales $15,000 annually.

3.  Proper Labeling and packaged.  (Again, use your judgment, if you can't box a wedding cake include this information in their contract.)

4. Cannot sell your goodies on the "Internet, Mail Order or Wholesale" (you can have a website to advertise and promote yourself but, cannot have a shopping cart) 
5. Labeling:

   

(a) The name and address of the cottage food operation.

(b) The name of the cottage food product.

(c) The ingredients of the cottage food product, descending order of predominance by weight. 

(d) The net weight or net volume of the cottage food product. 

(e) Allergen information as specified by federal labeling 945 requirements. 

(f) If any nutritional claim is made, appropriate nutritional information as specified by federal labeling  requirements. 

(g)  This must be on your label

"Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations."

The above is a quick reference for you and the attached document is more detailed.  I feel the state made it pretty simple.  There isn't anywhere in the bill that states you cannot sell at Flea Markets or Farmers Markets.  The state did not state that only certain types of foods can be made in a cottage food kitchen.  So I feel we are very lucky.  Some of you feel $15,000 isn't enough well, if you are making more than that then it maybe time for you to move up.  If you move into a commercial kitchen or rent a space than the above rules and regulations do not apply.  You have to follow the Food Establishment requirements and regulations.

I hope this helps."

 This may not answer all of your questions, but it will help you start out. 

Also, you can read the document she had attached here.