Suffolk residents may sell many homemade foods under Virginia's home food processing exemption, Virginia Code § 3.2-5130, administered by VDACS. Low-risk items like baked goods, jams, and candy need no state inspection, but labeling rules apply.
Cottage food sales run on state law, not a Suffolk ordinance. Virginia Code § 3.2-5130 exempts a resident who prepares candies, jams, jellies, dried goods, baked goods, honey, and similar non-hazardous foods in a private home from food establishment licensing and inspection by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Products must go directly to the consumer, in person, within Virginia, and each container must be labeled with the maker's name, address, and the statement "NOT FOR RESALE - PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION." Acidified vegetables such as pickles are capped at $9,000 in annual gross sales. Note that commercial food preparation and catering are not permitted Suffolk home occupations.
Selling foods that require refrigeration, omitting the required uninspected-kitchen label, or exceeding the acidified-products sales cap ends the exemption and subjects the seller to VDACS enforcement and full food establishment licensing.
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See how Suffolk's cottage food operations rules stack up against other locations.
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