This Guide was developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in partnership with a diverse collection of stakeholders including cottage food advocacy groups, local health departments, public health associations, the University of Illinois Extension, cottage food producers, and economic development organizations.

The purpose of this Guide is to support cottage food businesses and health departments, grow a thriving cottage food industry in Illinois, and ensure that cottage food products are safe, healthy, and enjoyable for all.

This Guide is designed to:

• Make it easy for farmers, food entrepreneurs, and health departments understand and implement Cottage Food Law
• Meet state requirements
• Comply with the highest safety standards

Please read this Guide carefully and thoroughly before applying to become a Cottage Food Operator.

Related Resource: Grow Your Farm Business, Self-Guided Course

This course will give you the tools to launch a new cottage food or value-added farm enterprise! From developing your product to selling it, we’ll walk you through the steps it takes to launch your new enterprise into the market. By the end of this course you will have a complete enterprise plan to guide your new venture.