Baked to order: new cottage food rules

by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President / CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Hawaii Island farmer Rourk Reagan of Pukana Lā Farms in Waiohinu wants to more easily produce and sell jams, relishes and sauces made with local ingredients.

Sally Stewart of Sally Jane’s Sweets and Savories, based in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island, would like to expand the sales of her homemade baked goods.

Mark Suiso of Makaha Mangoes on Oahu would like to be able to sell dried and freeze-dried mango made from leftover fruit.

Throughout the state, there are many people who would love the opportunity to sell authentic “made in Hawaii” products — not only to local residents but to folks from out of state too.

And soon, that’s something they will legally be able to do.

That’s because last year, the Legislature and Gov. Josh Green approved HB2144, a bill supported by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, which directed the state Department of Health to make it easier for cottage food entrepreneurs to sell their products.

Currently cottage foods intended for mail-order and third-party sales are strictly regulated, including the requirement that they be made in so-called commercial kitchens.

Reagan explained in testimony on the bill that it can cost $25 an hour or more to rent a commercial kitchen. He said just completing the lab testing for the first eight flavors of the jams he makes cost him $1,500. That’s enough to deter a small, home-based operation from going into business in the first place.

Since HB2144 was enacted last year, the Health Department has held two public hearings on the proposed new rules, including most recently in June.

Ideally, the rule-making process is almost done, and Gov. Green will quickly give his required OK.

We all love and value the flavors and contributions of Hawaii’s cottage food producers. After all, who doesn’t get excited when they discover a new homemade lychee jam or lilikoi cake?

I hope we don’t have to wait much longer for these new cottage food rules to go into effect.

E hana kākou! (Let's work together!)