Action Alert: Testify or Comment on MD Cottage Food Bill

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Subject: Action Alert: Testify or Comment on MD Cottage Food Bill

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Action Alert: Act Now for MD Cottage Foods!

Dear Friend,

The Maryland Senate Finance Committee will be holding a hearing this week on February 25^th to discuss Maryland Senate Bill 838, which seeks to expand access to cottage foods and home-baked goods, at 1:00 pm in House Office Building, Room 240, Annapolis, MD.

The bill amends the definition of cottage foods to mean non-potentially hazardous foods, rather than “nonhazardous foods.” Further, the bill adds a definition for home bakeries that makes both non-potentially hazardous and potentially hazardous products for sale direct to the consumer from the home, at a farmer’s market, at a public event, by personal or mail delivery, and to retail stores, groceries, and food cooperatives. Labels must contain specific data and be pre-approved by the Department of Health, a food safety course must be completed by the producer, and sales may not exceed $50k a year. Certain provisions of law governing cottage food businesses would also apply to home bakeries if the bill were to be enacted, but importantly home bakeries would also be allowed to sell potentially hazardous food in addition to nonpotentially hazardous foods.

If you cannot participate at the hearing, you can also submit comments in advance.

See below for more info on how to take action!

TAKE ACTION

Action Step #1

Testify in support of this legislation! If you would like to attend the hearing, please review the hearing guidelines here.

Note that in-person testimony is strongly encouraged but there is an option to submit orally testimony virtually via Zoom if necessary, and the hearing will be livestreamed if you cannot attend in person.

Action Step #2

Submit written comments in support of this legislation! If you are unable to attend the hearing in person or via Zoom, please submit your written comments in support of this bill to your legislators and to the Health Committee. See page two of these guidelines under “Written Testimony” for instructions on how to submit comments via the MyMGA portal. All written testimony must be uploaded to a PDF and have a:

Visible bill number located at the top of the first page of your testimony
Clear indication of support (FAV), opposed (UNF), or support with amendments (FWA)
Name and address of the person and/or entity testifying and submitting the testimony

Action Step #3

Contact your legislator and members of the Finance Committee and tell them you support SB 838!

Find your representative here.

See members of the Finance Committee here.

Action Step #4

Spread the word! Send this Action Alert email to your friends, families, and customer list.

TALKING POINTS

Passage of SB 838 would enable family farmers, cottage food producers, and home bakers to make a better living by increasing the allowable homemade foods that can be sold and by increasing sales avenues.
SB 838 would increase consumer freedom of choice by allowing greater access to homemade foods made by local producers.
SB 838 would enable small, independent, farms to make a better living by increasing the products they can sell that consumers want.
SB 838 would keep more of the food dollar in local communities with the increase in locally-produced foods consumers can obtain.

Taking action serves to increase #foodfreedom!

Please join us and spread the word about the importance of fair food and farming legislation.

In good health,

Alexia Kulwiec
Executive Director, FTCLDF

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