Cottage Food 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 Food 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.
Online Food Safety Training Schedule for Colorado Food Producers
| Location | Date | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide/Online | May 15, 2025 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 6, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 12, 2025 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 27, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 11, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 17, 2025 12-3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 14, 2025 12 - 3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 22, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | September 11, 2025 12 - 3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | September 19, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | October 3, 2025 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 7 , 2025 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 13, 2025 12 - 3:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
Food Safety Training for Colorado Cottage Food 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 Food Act or to confirm a product can be sold under the Colorado Cottage Food 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
