Required Documents: 

• Insurance
• Food Handlers Certificate or Food Managers Certificate
• Sales Tax Permit (if applicable)

Applicants under this category offer:

• products that have changed the form, flavor, blend and/or the substance of raw products using as many market products as available.
• 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. Vendors offering products covered under the Texas Cottage Food Law are classified as Value-Added Foods vendors.
• Examples: Baked goods, teas, salsa, nut butters

VALUE-ADDED FOODS VENDOR REQUIREMENTS

Value Added foods include products that have changed the form, flavor, blend and/or the substance of raw products.

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. Vendors offering products covered under the Texas Cottage Food Law are classified as Value-Added Foods vendors.

Products to be sold must be presented for sampling and inspection of labeling before acceptance into DFM. The Executive Director will request these samples from you– please do not drop off before invited to do so.

FOOD PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS:

All Value-Added Foods Vendors must provide proof of the following:

• Temporary Food Establishment Permit from the Galveston County Health District if the product does not explicitly fall under the Texas Cottage Foods Law parameters. (This GCHD Guidelines document outlines the requirements under the permit.)
• Food Manufacturer’s License
• Food Handler’s Card
• All value-added foods NOT named in the Texas Cottage Foods Law must be made in a certified kitchen

COTTAGE FOOD LAW VENDORS: 

• Read up on the specifics of the Texas Cottage Food Law here.
• All product labels must have the following… 
  • Name and physical address of the cottage food production operation;
    1. The common or usual name of the product;
    2. If a food is made with a major food allergen – such as eggs, nuts, soy, peanuts, milk, or wheat – that ingredient must be listed on the label; and
    3. The following statement: “This food is made in a home kitchen and is not inspected by the Department of State Health Services or a local health department.”
• *As of September 1st, 2019, changes were made to the Texas Cottage Food Law. Before submitting any applications for cottage foods products, please read through this updated fact sheet.

PICKLED ITEMS:

• Please read here for more information on which pickled/canned/fermented items are allowed under Texas Cottage Food Law.

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
  • identification of any of common major food allergen ingredients that are present

              Please read Texas labeling laws here for details.