In Minnesota, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods (and some home-canned items) up to $78,000 a year after a free or $50 registration with the Department of Agriculture and a tiered food-safety training. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to register, how to label it, and how to start.
The short version: Minnesota requires registration with the MDA before you sell, and it's tiered by sales volume. If you sell $7,665 or less per year, there's no fee but you take an online training and exam annually. Above that (up to the $78,000 cap), the fee is $50 and you take an approved food-safety course every three years. You can sell non-perishable foods plus home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits that meet pH/water-activity rules. Label products with the "homemade and not subject to state inspection" statement. (In-state shipping is coming under 2025 revisions effective August 1, 2027.)
The cap is $78,000 in annual sales for an individual.
| Minnesota rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | $78,000 per individual |
| Registration | Required with MDA (renew annually by April 1) |
| Fee | Free if ≤ $7,665/year; $50 if more |
| Training | ≤$7,665: online training + exam yearly · $7,666–$78,000: approved course every 3 years |
| Allowed foods | Non-TCS + home-canned pickles/veg/fruit (pH ≤ 4.6 or Aw ≤ 0.85) |
| Label statement | "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection" |
Yes. All cottage food producers must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before selling, and re-register each year by April 1 (registration expires March 31). Minnesota's training is tiered:
This tiered approach keeps entry free for small sellers while scaling requirements as you grow.
Minnesota allows non-potentially-hazardous foods plus some home-canned items. Commonly sold items include:
Foods requiring refrigeration are not allowed. Confirm specifics with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Minnesota labels must include:
A simple compliant label might read: *"North Star Sourdough — [Name / reg #]. Made [date]. Ingredients: flour, water, salt, starter (contains wheat). These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Minnesota cottage foods are sold directly to consumers. Allowed channels include:
Under the standard rules, products are handed directly to the buyer; in-state mail and commercial shipping become available under 2025 revisions taking effect August 1, 2027.
Because Minnesota allows direct and online in-state sales, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Minnesota sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have a Minnesota-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
The cap is $78,000 per individual — generous enough that most home sellers won't hit it. The tiered structure also keeps costs low while you're small. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Minnesota's tiered registration lets you start free under $7,665, then step up as you grow toward the $78,000 cap — and in-state shipping arrives in 2027.
Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For Minnesota: Minnesota exempts most food but taxes some prepared items; register with the Department of Revenue and confirm whether your products are taxable. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:
None of these are part of the MDA registration itself, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.
Always confirm current rules with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
$78,000 in annual sales per individual.
Yes. You must register with the MDA before selling and renew annually by April 1. Registration is free if you sell $7,665 or less; otherwise it's $50.
If you sell $7,665 or less, an online training and exam each year. If you sell more (up to $78,000), an approved food-safety course every three years.
Non-perishable foods like baked goods and jams, plus home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits with a pH of 4.6 or lower or water activity of 0.85 or less.
Your name or business name, address or registration number, production date, ingredients and allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Not yet. In-state mail and commercial shipping become available under 2025 revisions taking effect August 1, 2027. Until then, products are handed directly to the buyer.
Yes, if the product has a pH of 4.6 or lower or a water activity of 0.85 or less. Test and document each batch.
Registration expires March 31 and must be renewed by April 1 each year.
Register with the MDA, complete the training for your sales tier, and you can sell up to $78,000 a year. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Minnesota cottage food orders with pickup, then compare the rules in nearby states like Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.
*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — verify current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
