Resources

Looking to Break into the Farmers Market Biz?

We're not the ultimate authority on safe food handling procedures, but we know the people who are. We also know a lot of people who in tune with the latest in farmers market trends. We're happy to share what we know -- here's a start.

Charles County Economic Development
- Farms & Agriculture
- Starting & Growing Your Business

Small Business Development Center, Southern Region (College of Southern Maryland, La Plata)

Maryland Department of Health Office of Food Protection
- Cottage Foods
  - Cottage Food Products and Businesses Presentation (02/07/2023) **NEW
  - Cottage Food Frequently Asked Questions (02/2020)
  - Frostings and Icings (02/2020)
  - Guidelines for Cottage Food Businesses (Revised 10/2022; includes lists of allowable foods and ingredients and lists of foods and ingredients not allowed)
  - Cottage Food Business Request form
  - Cottage Food Business Checklist for Retail Food Sales (Revised 07/2021)
  - Cottage Food Business Labeling Guide (Revised 10/2022)
  - Cottage Food Business Fillable Label (04/2022)
- Center for Facility and Process Review
  - Guidance for all processing (wholesale) operations in the State, including on-farm home processing, shellfish plants, crab meat plants, canneries, food manufacturing plants, frozen food plants, ice manufacturing plants, confectionery plants, food warehouses, soft drink, and water bottling plants, including links to:
    - Plan Review Application
    - Processing Plant Plan Review Guidelines
    - Guidelines for Food Establishment Construction
    - On-Farm Home Processing Plan Review Guidelines
    - On-Farm Step By Step Process Licensing
    - On-Farm Foods and Definitions
    - SMADC Acidified Foods Guide
- Processing and Selling Value Added Food Products in Maryland (Revised 03/2023)
- Center for Food Processing

Maryland Department of Agriculture
- Maryland Poultry (includes guidance for mandatory flock registration, selling live poultry or hatching eggs, selling table eggs, poultry swaps, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), and authorized poultry testing agents
  - Guidelines for Table Egg Sales in Maryland (current as of 01/19/2013)

State of Maryland Farmer's Market Information

Grow & Fortify Value-Added Agriculture Regulatory Resource Hub
- What Do You Need to Know to Get Started?

University of Maryland Extension - Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center
- Entrepreneurial Coaching
- Food Processing Specialty Module

Resources

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Small Business Development Center, Southern Region (College of Southern Maryland, La Plata)

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Cottage Food Products and Businesses Presentation (02/07/2023) **NEW

Guidelines for Cottage Food Businesses (Revised 10/2022; includes lists of allowable foods and ingredients and lists of foods and ingredients not allowed)

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Maryland Poultry (includes guidance for mandatory flock registration, selling live poultry or hatching eggs, selling table eggs, poultry swaps, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), and authorized poultry testing agents​

Guidelines for Table Egg Sales in Maryland​ (current as of 01/19/2013)

Grow & Fortify Value-Added Agriculture Regulatory Resource Hub

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University of Maryland Extension - Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center

Maryland Poultry (includes guidance for mandatory flock registration, selling live poultry or hatching eggs, selling table eggs, poultry swaps, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), and authorized poultry testing agents

Guidelines for Table Egg Sales in Maryland (current as of 01/19/2013)