Cottage Food and Beyond: Growing Your Food Business

Location: Marquette Food Co-op (502 W Washington St, Marquette, MI 49855)
Cost: Free
Food: Light refreshments provided but attendees are encouraged to grab food or a snack from the Co-op before the event and bring it downstairs.
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 6th from 6:00pm-8:00pm
MSU Contact: Anthony Johnson (john8935@msu.edu)
Marquette Food Co-op Contact: Sarah Monte (smonte@marquettefood.coop)

Event Description:

Interested in starting a food business or growing beyond cottage food sales? This free session will walk through the basics of Michigan’s Cottage Food Law and what it takes to scale into a commercial food business.

MSU Extension staff will provide a high-level overview of food safety requirements, cottage food regulations, and the “next steps” for entrepreneurs looking to expand beyond home production. The MSU Product Center will share how they support food businesses with product development, licensing, packaging, and getting products into retail spaces.

The session will also feature a discussion with an experienced food entrepreneur, offering real-world insight into starting and growing a food business. MSU staff will host a Q&A following the presentations, and there will be dedicated time for audience questions and open discussion.

This session is designed for farmers market vendors, cottage food producers, and anyone interested in turning a food idea into a viable business.

Come learn what it takes to move from home kitchen to market—and beyond.