Selling Food in Michigan — What You Need to Know

The Basics

Michigan allows individuals to sell many types of homemade and farm-produced foods directly to consumers without extensive licensing — but the rules depend on what you're selling and how it was produced.

Products That Generally Do Not Require a License

Cottage Food Products (Michigan Cottage Food Law, MCL 289.4102)

Michigan's Cottage Food Law allows individuals to prepare and sell certain foods made in a home kitchen without a food establishment license, as long as:

• The food is sold directly to the consumer — selling on Rootly counts as direct-to-consumer.
• Annual gross sales do not exceed $75,000.
• Products are not potentially hazardous (no refrigeration required).
• Products are properly labeled (see Labeling below).

Common cottage food products include:

• Baked goods: bread, cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, brownies
• Candy and confections
• Jams, jellies, and fruit butters (made with proper acidity)
• Honey
• Dried herbs and herb mixes
• Popcorn, granola, trail mix
• Dry baking mixes

What cottage food does NOT cover:

• Foods requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecake, cut fruit)
• Canned vegetables (low-acid canned goods require a licensed facility)
• Meat or poultry products
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
• Fermented foods like kombucha or sauerkraut (requirements vary — check with MDARD)

Fresh Produce (Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs)

If you grow your own fruits, vegetables, or herbs and sell them unprocessed (whole, not cut or cooked), you generally do not need a license.

Eggs

Michigan allows sale of ungraded eggs directly from farm to consumer without a license, from your own flock. If you sell more than 3,000 dozen eggs per year, additional requirements may apply.

Flowers and Bouquets

No food license required. Standard business requirements may apply depending on your municipality.

Pet Food and Treats

Pet food is regulated separately. Michigan generally requires pet food to be registered with MDARD if commercially manufactured. Contact MDARD directly to confirm requirements.

Products That Require a License and Rootly Verification

Meat Products

Selling meat to the public in Michigan requires processing in a USDA-inspected or Michigan-inspected facility. This applies to beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, processed meats (jerky, sausage), and game meats.

What you need:

1. Meat processed at a licensed, inspected facility with documentation.
2. On Rootly, subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo) and complete the meat verification process by uploading your licensing documents.

Dairy Products

Selling dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream) requires a dairy processing license from MDARD, even from your own animals.

What you need:

1. A valid Michigan dairy processing license from MDARD.
2. On Rootly, subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo) and complete the dairy verification process.

Labeling Requirements

Cottage Food Labeling (Required by Michigan Law)

All cottage food products must include a label with:

• Product name
• Name and address of the business
• Date the product was made
• Ingredients list (in descending order by weight)
• Allergen statement (9 major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame)
• “Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

Rootly Subscription Tiers

Platform Fee Structure

• Buyer platform fee: 5.5% + $0.50 per order (added on top at checkout — the buyer pays this, not you).
• Stripe processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (deducted by Stripe from your payout).
• Stripe Connect required for payouts — set up during or after onboarding.
• Sales tax: Automatically calculated by Stripe Tax. Most fresh food is exempt in Michigan.

Rootly's Verification Process

Verification is required for meat and dairy products only:

1. Subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo or $209.99/yr).
2. Select Meat, Dairy, or Both for verification during onboarding.
3. Upload your licensing documents.
4. Our team reviews your documents (typically 1–3 business days).
5. Once approved, you can list products in the Meat and/or Dairy categories.

Your Responsibilities as a Seller

• You are solely responsible for the safety, quality, legality, and labeling of your products.
• You comply with all applicable laws, including Michigan food safety regulations.
• Your product listings are accurate (descriptions, images, pricing, allergen info).
• You maintain any required licenses and keep them current.
• You fulfill confirmed orders promptly and maintain accurate inventory.
• You respond to orders within the confirmation deadline. Orders not confirmed before the pickup window minus 30 minutes will be auto-cancelled.
• Sellers may issue full or partial refunds at any time. The buyer is always made whole (refund includes platform fee).

Helpful Resources

• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
  michigan.gov/mdard · (800) 292-3939
• Michigan Cottage Food Law Information
  michigan.gov/mdard/food/cottage-food
• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
  fsis.usda.gov
• MSU Extension — Food Processing
  canr.msu.edu/food_processing