On September 21, 2012 artisan food producers across California rejoiced!
On that day California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB1616 into law -- effective January 1, 2013 -- allowing producers of non-hazardous food products to be produced in a home kitchen.
This was a huge victory for small food producers as it takes away one of the biggest barriers to starting a food business -- finding an inspected commercial kitchen to rent. Such kitchens are not only hard to find given the huge demand, but are also expensive to rent.
Now small food producers can first find out if they have a market for their products before they take that next business leap of renting a commercial kitchen. There will still be a food safety test to pass, permits to apply for and license fees to pay, but this is a huge step in letting market forces determine the success of a business.
And it can only be a good thing to bring the customer and the food producer closer together.
After the excitement of having the bill signed came the reality that there was a lot of work to be done in order to have the bill implemented by January 1, 2013. Although it is now a state law, it is up to the individual cities and counties to administer it.
I am honored to be one of the cottage food producers on the working group to help the state implement the law. And I must say, I'm in awe of the folks on that committee -- health inspectors, lawyers, consumer advocates, city planners -- all have the same goal as us bread, pie and jam makers -- to get permits issued as quickly as possible.
San Francisco, the city and county that I live in, is still working on implementing the law and I'm optimistic that it will happen within the next few weeks. Although I'm more than a little sad that Los Angeles beat San Francisco to the punch in issuing permits!
A big thank you to the rock stars that made this law a reality including:
Christina Oatfield and her co-workers at the Sustainable Economies Law Center
Mark Stambler, of the L.A. Bread Bakers
Assemblyman Mike Gatto and his staff
And here are a few links if you want more information on the law:
A brief article by reporter Tara Duggan for the San Francisco Chronicle
The California Department of Health website -- great info. here
The "stay tuned" message on the San Francisco Department of Health Website
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| (photo courtesy the SELC) |
