A Republican-authored bill could negatively affect at-home food producers as it would set an annual revenue limit, the Cap Times reports.
The state has various laws regarding at-home food production. In 2009, a “pickle bill” was signed into law, allowing cottage canners to sell up to $5,000 worth of canned goods such as pickles.
Roughly a decade ago, a judge ruled that cottage bakers could sell baked goods such as cookies, cupcakes and muffins out of their home kitchens without a commercial license.
Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, one of the bill’s authors, said the legislation is meant to encourage entrepreneurship but ensure the food customers consume is safe. The bill is also meant to create fairness for other businesses that pay to use commercial kitchens and be licensed with the state, he said.
The new bill would revise existing laws to allow for non-baked goods to be sold out of the home, but caps annual revenue at $40,000.
Jobea Murray, board president of the Wisconsin Cottage Food Association and an at-home baker, told the Cap Times the annual limit is too low for cottage bakers.
The bill would also install two levels of producers. Small producers are those who sell under $10,000 a year, and cottage producers who sell up to $40,000 per year.
