Senate Bill 2888 (
SB 2888), the Hawaii Access to Local Food Act, will have a hearing Friday, February 11 at 1pm before the Senate committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health.
SB 2888 represents a great opportunity to expand the market for locally produced food in Hawaii.
Please contact committee members in support of this important legislation. Hawaii’s current cottage food law only allows direct in-person sales of some non-potentially hazardous foods (i.e., foods not requiring time or temperature control for safety) such as baked goods, jams and jellies.
SB 2888 would allow the sale of all non-potentially hazardous and potentially hazardous foods (i.e., foods requiring time and temperature control for safety) made in private home kitchens including some meat and poultry products if those foods are in compliance with federal law. Cottage food operations producing hazardous foods can sell their products on the internet, through an agent or a third-party vendor such as a retail store, and through the mail. Cottage food operations producing potentially hazardous foods can sell their products on the internet but all deliveries must be direct from a cottage food operator to the consumer.
All cottage food operations must obtain a permit from the Hawaii Department of Health and then submit proof of a valid food handlers education certificate for each cottage food operator working for the cottage food business. For cottage food operations selling certain products using preservation methods, there are additional requirements.
