Iowa farm meal hosts would need one annual event license

Farm meal hosts would need a $100 annual license covering all eligible events on their farm. The state food-safety agency would license and inspect these farm events. Hosts must hold a legal interest in the farm. Events cannot be its main annual income source during the previous licensing period, when applicable. Meals must be prepared and eaten on the farm, with a main dish containing an important farm-produced ingredient. Rules could allow indoor meals when unexpected circumstances would otherwise prevent the event. Violations would carry penalties. The license would cover one year.

Stores could sell cottage food that producers sell and deliver to them for preparation or eating elsewhere. Cottage food means food made at home that does not need temperature control for safety. Stores must keep cottage food separate from other food, including on shelves and displays. Packages must carry required labels. Stores must post an exemption notice and provide a product fact sheet. The food would be exempt from general state licensing, permit, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws, but must meet these sales requirements. Federal law would still apply.

Eligible licensed businesses on dairy farms could receive, advertise, sell, and distribute raw milk and products made from it. This covers licensed home food processing businesses with gross annual sales below $50,000 and licensed food businesses selling food to be eaten elsewhere. The milk must be produced and processed, or the dairy product made, on the farm where the business operates. The farmer and products must meet Iowa’s raw milk requirements, including distribution rules. The delivery exception covers these eligible licensed businesses, not farmers markets.