MSU Extension’s Food Safety Webinar Series: Selling honey & maple syrup – safely
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EmailJoin MSU Extension to learn about the key food safety practices, regulations, and best practices for selling honey and maple syrup products in Michigan.
Michigan State University Extension is offering an informative webinar series, "Selling Honey & Maple Syrup – Safely," to help producers understand key food safety practices, regulations, and best practices for selling their products legally and safely under the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) honey and maple syrup exemption. This online seminar is for small-scale producers who are currently selling or planning to sell honey and maple syrup. It provides essential guidance to ensure their products comply with Michigan’s food safety standards.
Key topics
- Regulations and licensing
- Understanding the Michigan Food Law and how it applies to the honey and maple syrup exemptions.
- Differences between the honey and maple syrup exemptions and the Cottage Food Law.
- When a license is required for selling honey or maple syrup.
- Processing and handling best practices
- Food safe considerations for extraction, bottling, and labeling techniques.
- Preventing contamination and ensuring product purity.
- Labeling and marketing compliance
- Required information for product labels.
- Best marketing strategies while adhering to regulations.
- Selling venues and considerations
- Differences between selling at farmers’ markets, online, or retail stores.
- Navigating direct-to-consumer sales and wholesale options.
How to attend
The webinars are free and open to all honey and maple syrup producers in Michigan. Registration is required. For more details visit the registration link.
Remaining webinars in the series:
- June 18, 12-2 p.m.
- July 16, 12-2 p.m.
- August 20, 2-4 p.m.
- September 10, 6-8 p.m.
- October 8, 12-2 p.m.
- November 11, 2-4 p.m.
- December 10, 4-6 p.m.
Additional resources
- MSU Product Center - Honey Resources
- Selling Honey and Maple Syrup Safely
- Michigan Maple Syrup and Honey Licensing Exemptions
- Rules and Regulations for Selling Honey in Michigan
- Producing a Value-Added Product on the Farm: Liquid Honey
MSU Product Center
Michigan State University Extension’s Product Center helps entrepreneurs navigate the process of launching a food business. If you are looking for one-on-one counseling, field-based innovation counselors provide guidance on business planning, packaging, labeling regulations, licensing and compliance, marketing, distribution, and other key aspects of product development for all foods including honey and maple syrup.
Since 2003, the MSU Product Center has assisted in business expansions resulting in total investments of more than $446 million and the creation of 3,729 jobs. In 2024, the MSU Product Center held approximately 3,300 counseling sessions with 655 clients, in addition to capital formation totaling more than $2 million.
Learn more about the economic impact of the MSU Product Center and the business counseling services available by visiting canr.msu.edu/productcenter.
