Free Cottage Law Workshop Set for November 10 at The Mill in Shenandoah

Free Cottage Law Workshop Set for November 10 at The Mill in Shenandoah

 

 

Local residents interested in turning a family recipe, small garden, or home kitchen project into a food business have an excellent opportunity next week.

Dr. Margaret Brady of The Mill and Vision Shenandoah, joined by Betsy Stephens, Page County Director for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, stopped by the KCSI studios this morning to highlight the upcoming Cottage Law Workshop and other community opportunities

 

Cottage Law Workshop Details

The free workshop takes place Tuesday, November 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Mill, located at 818 W. Sheridan Avenue in Shenandoah. Sponsored by Golden Hills RC&D, the event features ISU Extension and Outreach Food Business Specialist Penny Brown Huber.

It is designed for small food processors and anyone dreaming of starting or expanding a food-related business. Participants will learn practical steps for launching and growing an Iowa food enterprise, including:

• Starting a small food business from home or the farm

• Understanding Iowa’s cottage food law

• Labeling processed food products to meet state requirements

• Identifying grant opportunities for small food processors

Under Iowa’s cottage food laws, certain non-hazardous foods (such as many baked goods and jams) can be prepared in a home kitchen and sold directly to consumers under specific regulations overseen by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Products that require refrigeration or heating to remain safe, or those sold through third-party vendors, typically require an inspected commercial facility.

As a bonus, a limited number of 30-minute one-on-one consultations with Penny Brown Huber are available for $10. These personalized sessions, offered earlier in the afternoon, provide feedback on individual food business concepts. Contact the Page County Extension Office at 712-542-5171 or email xpage@iastate.edu to register or reserve a consultation. Registration for the free workshop should be completed promptly (official deadline noted as November 3). Visit extension.iastate.edu/page for more information.

During the workshop, Dr. Brady plans to offer soft tours of the commercial kitchen currently being developed at The Mill. Funded in part by grants, the shared kitchen is expected to become operational in about a month. It will be available for rent by the hour or day for those ready to move beyond a home kitchen into commercial production, with processes coordinated through the Department of Inspections and Appeals.