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.
2023 Online Food Safety Training Schedule for Colorado Food Producers
| Location | Date | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide/Online | January 23, 2023 1-5 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | January 27, 2023 9 a.m. -1 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 8, 2023 1-4 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 9, 2023 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 22, 2023 5-9 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Colorado Springs/In-Person | March 7, 2023 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 10, 2023 9 a.m. -1 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 29, 2023 1-4 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 12, 2023 1-4 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Colorado Springs/In-Person | April 13, 2023 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 21, 2023 9 a.m. -1 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 4, 2023 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 20, 2023 9 a.m. -1 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 1, 2023 1-5 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Colorado Springs/In-Person | June 6, 2023 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 28, 2023 1-5 p.m. MDT | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | October 6, 2023 12-4 p.m. MDT | 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: 2.5 to 3 hours; 3-year certificate.
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
