If you have a garden at home, consider selling food to help make extra income! Food from your garden can be a big help if you find yourself with leftover vegetables and fruits that go bad. While 20% of businesses fail within the first two years of opening, cottage food sold from home seems to be one of the better and most long-lasting businesses. Below are some of the many ways you can make money by selling food from your garden.
Use Your Crops to Sell Baked Goods
Many states allow people to sell food from their homes to make money, so long as the food they sell is not perishable if left unrefrigerated. These state laws are known as cottage food laws. Cottage food laws differ by state, but for the most part, many states allow you to sell food directly to consumers so long as it is shelf-stable, doesn’t contain dairy and eggs, and doesn’t contain meat products.
If you’re growing lavender or rosemary, you can incorporate these herbs into baked scones and sell them through cottage food laws. You can also sell these herbs in dried form to make money legally! Remember to make sure your herbs are pest-free. Since your herbs compete with 30,000 species of weed, 3,000 species of nematodes, and 10,000 species of plant-eating insects, consider inspecting all crops for pests.
Partner With Charitable Organizations
Instead of making money for yourself, you can also sell food from your garden to help local businesses. While wearing a lapel pin to show an affiliation with an organization or cause is a great way to show solidarity, helping your charity earn money through donations is an even better way to help!
Consider selling your goods through a charity or selling them for donations. Selling them for donations allows you to use the money and share it with the community. Ask your organization if they will allow you to sell on their behalf beforehand.
Consider Renting a Commercial Kitchen
Many commercial kitchen rentals allow you to sell food that, unlike cottage food, is perishable under certain conditions. You can also turn the food from your garden into gourmet meals and sell it through a commercial kitchen. However, most states allow people to sell perishable food so long as it is made in a commercial kitchen.
Commercial kitchens will undergo inspections. You will also need to apply for certain permits, pay for fees, and pay for the rent of your kitchen. However, if you want to make more money and cook the food you love using crops from your garden, renting a commercial kitchen is a great option to make more money. Ask your local health department for more information on specific cottage food and commercial kitchen laws.
Focus on a Specific Food Niche
What type of food do you grow best? What are people in your area looking for? Find a niche and stick to it and offer something that sets you apart from the competition. For instance, if you have a beehive and produce organic honey infused with lavender, this is an excellent niche to tap into you. If you grow chillis and love to make hot sauce with them, consider tapping into this niche.
Focusing on a specific food, vegetable, or fruit allows you to hone your skills in perfecting your gardening practices. It also helps you create a brand that people can follow more easily rather than if you were to sell a variety of different food items.
By following these tips, you can make money selling food from your garden. Check with your local health department for more detailed information on selling food from your garden. Afterward, get out there and start selling and promoting your business! You can turn your hobby into a money-making endeavor with little effort.
