Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

New Leopold Center FAQ answers questions about selling local food

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August 20, 2009

AMES, Iowa -- The popularity of farmers markets in Iowa also means more questions from people who want to sell their products via an expanding array of direct markets. Do I need a license to sell sweet corn or my home-made jam? Do I have to package my products? Do I need to worry about sales tax?

A new resource from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture aims to help answer some of those questions.

With the help of food safety experts and Iowa food regulatory officials, the Leopold Center has compiled a new summary of “Frequently Asked Questions on Food Regulations for Small Market Food Producers.” The report is available on the Leopold Center Web site.

“Many questions have arisen about regulations for selling food in local and regional market venues. This document addresses the most frequently asked questions on which we’ve received feedback from various Iowa partners,” said Leopold Center Associate Director Rich Pirog, who prepared the FAQ with the help of Drake Agricultural Law Center interns Ross Baxter and Kate Lyon.

Pirog said there have been misconceptions and misunderstandings about direct food sales at farmers markets and to institutions. For example, the topic arose at a Regional Food Systems Working Group meeting about a year ago when participants said they were being told by foodservice directors that their institutions could not buy food items directly from farmers.

“A call by a staff member at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to the Iowa Department of Inspections verified that there are no state laws prohibiting direct sale of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables from producers to institutions,” Pirog said. “Having this information really helped eliminate the confusion, and that’s the goal of this new resource.”

The report provides answers to 13 common questions about direct sales. All information was reviewed by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Food and Consumer Safety Bureau and two Iowa State University Extension food safety specialists. The report also offers Web sites where readers can go to get more information on specific topics.

Pirog said the report does not offer legal advice on Iowa food regulations and food business operations and said specific questions should be directed to the Department of Inspections and Appeals Food and Consumer Safety Bureau at (515) 281-6538.

The Leopold Center is providing copies of the report to all regional ISU extension offices and Resource Conservation and Development offices throughout Iowa. 

For more info contact:

Rich Pirog, (515) 294-1854, rspirog@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu

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