Prepared Foods Application
Information & Requirements
Required Documents:
- Insurance
- Kitchen Lease Agreement
- Sales Tax Permit (if applicable)
- Galveston County Health District Food Permit (gchd.org)
Applicants under this category offer:
- Freshly-made food and drinks available for sale and immediate consumption. These products may be hot or cold ready-to-eat foods or drinks.
- Products should use organic ingredients when available and as many market products as possible & reasonable, with preference given to those vendors who use local products.
- The certified kitchen utilized must be located within 150 miles of the market attended.
- Examples: Pakistani take-home meals, iced lemonade, breakfast tacos
PREPARED FOODS VENDOR REQUIREMENTS
Prepared Foods vendors offer freshly-made food and drinks available for sale and immediate consumption. These products may be hot or cold ready-to-eat foods or drinks.
Products should use organic ingredients when available and as many market products as possible & reasonable, with preference given to those vendors who use local products.
The certified kitchen utilized must be located within 150 miles of the market attended.
Products to be sold must be presented for sampling and inspection of labeling before acceptance into DFM. The Board of Trustees may or will request these samples from you– please do not drop off before invited to do so.
FOOD PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS:
All Prepared Foods Vendors must provide proof of the following:
- Temporary Food Establishment Permit from the Galveston County Health District (This GCHD Guidelines document outlines the requirements under the permit.)
- Food Manufacturer’s License
- Food Handler’s License
- All prepared foods must be made in a certified kitchen
LABELING REQUIREMENTS:
All food items must be clearly labeled according to Texas law and include:
- Contact information: address, phone number and/or email address
- Common name of product
- List of ingredients by weight
- The eight major food allergens
- Please read Texas labeling laws here for details
GALVESTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT (GCHD) PERMITTING FAQs:
- GCHD phone number (409) 938-2411
- Address: 9850-D Emmett F. Lowry Expy./ Suite D-100/ Texas City, TX 77591
- Walk-in Hours: Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm
- Link to GCHD Consumer Health Services
- GCHD Description of a “Farmers Market” food establishment (scroll down)
- Link to GCHD Temporary Food Establishment Form for all “potentially hazardous foods” (ie anything that must be refrigerated to remain safe – should only be $75 per event or $100 for a yearly permit)
Additional Resources
