MSU Extension Product Center

Important Note Connect with a Product Center Counselor

Key Information

Dried herbs, spices, and soup mixes can be sold at a farmers market or bake sales and are covered under the Michigan Cottage Food Law guidelines with no certification or licensing required. However, if gross annual sales for baked goods are more than $25,000, they can no longer be sold under the Michigan Cottage Food Law and must be produced in a commercial kitchen under licensing by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) or a local health department. Any wholesale sales will require licensing.    

Regulatory Body and Contact Information

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD): (800) 292-3939
• Local Health Department

Helpful Links

• MSU Extension
  • MSU Product Center
  • Michigan Cottage Food Law information and workshops
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD): Dried herbs and spices

Articles

• Spice up your food with your own dried herbs 
• Spice up your life
• How to preserve fresh herbs
• Writing an accurate ingredient statement for packaged food products

Important Note

All food and beverage products (even similar items) may have different regulations depending on what ingredients are used, the location or facility in which it is being produced, the packaging materials used, the distribution or shipping methods, as well as a variety of others. Licensing and regulation for food and beverage production in Michigan is administered by Local Health Departments, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), local zoning regulations, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). 

To guide you through the process of launching your food or beverage business, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Product Center is an organization that brings together on-campus expertise in the sectors of food, agriculture, and natural resources to help entrepreneurs define and launch innovative products. Field-based innovation counselors advise entrepreneurs on a variety of services, including business planning, packaging and labeling rules, licensing and regulatory requirements, marketing, branding, distribution, product testing, and other product development needs.  

To access business development assistance from the MSU Product Center staff, select the “Become a Client” button on the MSU Product Center website. There is a $100 application fee to join, which grants clients access to unlimited counseling hours. We also ask that clients sign a confidentiality agreement to protect their information. 

If you have specific questions about how your product will be regulated, you may reach out to your Local Health Department or the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).