Can I sell food prepared in my home at a Farmers Market?
The St. Charles County Food Code and the Food and Drug Administration's 2009 Food Code clearly prohibit the sale and distribution of home-prepared foods. The private home is considered an unapproved source and is not inspected by health departments to ensure that safe food practices are followed. With that being said, Farmers Markets fall under special provisions by the state. These provisions allow the home preparation of jams, jellies and honey. Shortly after these provisions were enacted, the definition of a food establishment was changed to further allow the preparation of non-potentially hazardous home-baked products to be sold at Farmers Markets. In all cases, proper labeling and signage is required to be on display for all home-prepared goods. If you have questions about these provisions, please call the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at 636-949-1800.

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1. What is a Farmers Market?
2. When is a license needed to sell products at a Farmers Market?
3. Does the health department require licenses for selling other products at a Farmers Market?
4. Can I sell food prepared in my home at a Farmers Market?
5. What is required to be on this home-prepared food label?
6. Shouldn’t an exemption be made for vendors at Farmers Markets since they only operate for one or two days each week?
7. Why must I also have to pay a vendor’s fee to the market, as well as the license fees? What do I do if I’m not happy with the market rules?
8. What is a potentially hazardous food product?