The Homegrown Vendor Blog

A practical guide for home growers who want to sell microgreens locally — why microgreens don't need cottage food permits (they're fresh produce), startup costs of $200-$500, pricing for 60-75% margins, best-selling varieties, packaging, and how to land farmers market and restaurant accounts.

A practical guide for home cooks who want to sell prepared meals locally — why meal prep doesn't qualify under cottage food laws, how to get licensed (commercial kitchen, shared kitchen, or permitted home kitchen), pricing for 65-75% margins, packaging and food safety, pre-order systems, and building a repeat customer base.

A practical guide for home bakers who want to sell their pies — which pies qualify under cottage food laws (and which don't), best-selling varieties like apple and pecan, pricing for premium margins, packaging and transport, pre-order strategies, and building toward Thanksgiving as your biggest revenue day.

A practical guide for home cooks who want to sell their own spice blends and seasonings — cottage food permits, best-selling blends like BBQ rubs and taco seasoning, pricing for premium margins, packaging options, equipment, and where to sell at farmers markets and locally.

A practical guide for home pasta makers who want to sell fresh or dried pasta — the critical legal distinction between fresh and dried, cottage food vs MEHKO permits, best-selling shapes, pricing for premium margins, packaging, equipment, and where to sell at farmers markets and locally.

A practical guide for home vendors who want to sell homemade fudge, caramels, toffee, and candy — cottage food permits, popular flavors, pricing for high margins, gift packaging, equipment, and where to sell at farmers markets and holiday fairs.

A practical guide for home vendors who want to sell flavored popcorn, kettle corn, and snack mixes — cottage food permits, popular flavors, pricing for high margins, packaging, equipment, and where to sell at farmers markets and local events.

A practical guide for home fermenters who want to start selling — which fermented foods are allowed under cottage food laws, the permits you need, pH testing requirements, pricing, packaging, and where to sell sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and more.

A practical guide to selling tamales from home — which permits you need for meat vs. vegetarian tamales, how to price by the dozen, packaging and labeling requirements, and where to sell.