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 Etsy and food products
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl

404 Posts

Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts

Posted - Mar 26 2007 :  1:58:10 PM  Show Profile
Can anyone tell me what the rules are for selling food products on Etsy? Is there anything I should know about doing that? I was thinking of selling premade mixes like gourmet pancake mix, soup mix and possibly cornbread mix among some other non-food items. I started thinking that maybe there were some special rules to sell food products there so I decided to try to find out before I go any further with my plans. I havent opened an account there yet but plan to as soon as I get my new debit card that I will be using specifically for this purpose.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Shelle



http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/

Edited by - shelle on Mar 26 2007 2:29:05 PM

babs
True Blue Farmgirl

226 Posts

Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts

Posted - Mar 26 2007 :  11:26:14 PM  Show Profile
I haven't come across any food product rules. I had some spice mixes and was going to add bread mixes, but the feedback I was getting was that soap and food items didn't "go" together so I dropped the food stuffs. If you are going to do food, I would just do food. I think most etsy buyers like to see that you specialize in one type of product because that is "what you do best". It's pigeon holing, and it's not fair to us well rounded over achieving girls that tend to do it all, but it does help shape your brand identity. Do one thing, do it well.

As for food labeling, I would use regular farmers market guidelines as a rule of thumb. All food packages should feature a tamper resistance seal. All food labels should have your name, address and date packed and/or expiration date with appropriate storage information. Look at food packages, what type of information do they have on them?

HTH,
Babs

http://www.MugwortMaggies.etsy.com
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl

1818 Posts

Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts

Posted - Mar 27 2007 :  05:45:21 AM  Show Profile
Babs -- You have a very attractive etsy store! Will order soon (after taxes are done - - I'll need a treat.) xx kl
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl

404 Posts

Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts

Posted - Mar 27 2007 :  10:48:25 AM  Show Profile
Thanks Babette!

Shelle

http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl

521 Posts



521 Posts

Posted - Mar 27 2007 :  2:05:54 PM  Show Profile
I had this same question when I started selling on Etsy. I recently asked it on the Etsy forums, and the popular consensus is that you need to follow your state's food sanitation guidelines. In many states you have to prepare value-added food products (like baked goods) in a licensed kitchen in order to sell them to the general public.

http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com

Now Open!: http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl

404 Posts

Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts

Posted - Mar 27 2007 :  2:50:20 PM  Show Profile
Thanks kitchensqueen! That was exactly what I was wondering about. I have worked in food service when I managed a restaurant so I know what the rules would be here and what it would involve to be licensed. I appreciate the help. Now I know and can make my decisions from that.

Shelle

http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl

521 Posts



521 Posts

Posted - Mar 28 2007 :  2:11:53 PM  Show Profile
You know, some alternatives to getting your own kitchen licensed are to use a church, restaurant or catering business after hours, 4-H/fairground kitchens or school. Never hurts to ask. :-)

http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com

Now Open!: http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com
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