Cottage Foods in Colorado
Colorado Senate Bill 12-048 allows individuals to produce, sell and store certain types of “cottage food” products in an unlicensed home kitchen that are non-potentially hazardous and that do not require refrigeration. The Colorado Cottage Foods Act allows individuals to make and sell a limited range of foods, including spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, flour, and baked goods, including candies, fruit empanadas, and tortillas.
2024 Online Food Safety Training Schedule for Colorado Food Producers
| Location | Date | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| In-person, El Paso County | March 12, 2024 10:30 a.m.-2p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 12, 2024 5-8:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 20, 2024 1-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| SPANISH Statewide/Online | March 25, 2024 12:30-4:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In-person, El Paso County | April 4, 2024 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In-person, Montrose County | April 5, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 12 2023 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 18, 2024 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In-person, Delta County | April 22, 2024 1-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 24, 2024 1-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 25, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| SPANISH Statewide/Online | April 29, 2024 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online This class includes a 30-minute business basics section. | May 1, 2024 12:30-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 3, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30pm MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 30, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online This class includes a 30-minute business basics section. | June 5, 2024 12:30-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 14, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 20, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 12, 2024 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 25, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 9, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 15, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | September 6, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online This class includes a 30-minute business basics section. | September 23, 2024 12:30-4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | October 17, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 1, 2024 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 14, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | December 14, 2024 12-3:30 p.m. | Register for Training |
Food Safety Training for Colorado Cottage Foods Producers
Offered by Colorado State University Extension, this nationally-recognized training program covers the specifics of the Colorado Cottage Food Act and how to safely operate a food business from a home kitchen. Length: 3.5 hours; 3-year certificate.
For questions regarding Colorado Cottage Food Safety training or products, contact cottagefoods@colostate.edu. For regulatory questions about the Colorado Cottage Foods Act or to confirm a product can be sold under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at cdphe_mfgfd@state.co.us.
Participants will learn:
- Basic food safety – including proper hygiene; preventing cross contamination and cross contact of food allergens; temperature control for safe food preparation, storage, transport and sales
- Foods permissible in Colorado’s Cottage Food Act
- Ingredient labeling and disclaimer requirements
- Special considerations for food preparation at altitude
- Resources for going further
