UKIAH — The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) will present a hands-on workshop series at the UCCE Mendocino County office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 15 and 22.
The two-part workshop series is one of six being offered at locations across Northern California designed especially for farmers interested in producing value-added products in their home kitchens, according to Julia Van Soelen Kim, North Bay Food Systems advisor.
Participants will learn about the new California Homemade Food Act, which allows people to prepare and package certain non-potentially hazardous foods in private-home kitchens referred to as Cottage Food Operations (CFOs), Van Soelen Kim stated.
“Most farmers don”t know that if they become a Cottage Food Operator, they can legally sell products made with their very own produce in their home kitchens, including fruit jams, jellies, pies and dried fruit,” University of California, Davis agricultural economist Shermain Hardesty stated. “This is an exciting opportunity because farmers can now make delicious products with the season”s abundance, diversify their operations and generate new income.”
“Cottage foods are a terrific way for small producers to add value to tree crops including pears, apples and walnuts,” Rachel Elkins, UCCE pomology farm advisor for Lake and Mendocino counties, added.
While designed especially for farmers, the workshop series is also open to others who want to learn how to produce and sell cottage foods.
“This workshop series will benefit all new and prospective Cottage Food Operators by providing practical information to support the success of their new cottage food business ventures,” Van Soelen Kim stated.
The workshop series is partially funded by a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant and will cover: CFO law; food science and sanitation; business operations for CFOs; packaging, storage and marketing of CFO products; and hands-on demonstrations and tastings with jams, jellies, honey, nuts, dried fruit and baked goods. Because processed meat, dairy, fermented foods, and juices are not legally acceptable cottage foods, they will not be covered in the workshops.
The two-part workshop series costs $25 with advance registration and $40 at the door, space permitting. For information and to register, visit the registration webpage at ucanr.edu/cfoworkshops or contact UCCE Mendocino County at 463-4495 or UCCE Lake County at 263-6838.
The UCCE Mendocino County office is located at 890 N. Bush St. in Ukiah.
Workshops take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch provided, at six Northern California locations:
?Fairfield at UCCE in Solano County on Tuesday and May 20
?Ukiah at UCCE in Mendocino County on May 15 and May 22
?Eureka at the Agriculture Center on May 28 and June 11
?Redding at Shasta College (Building No. 800, Room No. 822) on May 29 and June 10
?Jackson at UCCE in Amador County on June 12 and June 16
?Sacramento at UCCE in Sacramento County on July 1 and July 9
