Hey all my Wisconsin bakers. Someone directed me to a post that was posted in January of this year. It's dealing with the Food Cottage Law ... trying to get Wisconsin to pass it so we can bake and sell out of our homes (like over half of the states can already do).

Please follow this link to sign the petition (send it to friends and family members that live here too). We are almost there, only 40 more! After you enter in your information and click sign now it takes you to a page that asks if you want to donate money. You can just ignore that part. You should get an email thanking you for signing. So as long as you got that, then you signed it!!!!!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wisconsin-food-cottage-law

Let's get Wisconsin on the right track and give us small (really small) bakeries the ability to bake from home so we can work our way up to a store someday!
  
Oh yeah ... I also wrote and email to Rep. Janis Ringhand who I guess is the person that was approached about this law and told her my story. I got a response back from Maggie Gau from the office of Rep. Janis Ringhand ... here is what she said:

"Mandy,
Thank you for contacting our office.

I appreciate you sharing your personal experience with us. That is exactly why we are working on cottage food legislation that would allow small businesses like yours to grow in Wisconsin. Since the Legislature will not be back in session until January 2013 we are currently working on putting the finishing touches on our legislation. If youd like, I can forward you a copy as soon as its completed.

Thanks again for your email and we will be in touch!
Maggie"

If anyone feels the need to contact her or Rep. Janis Ringhand and tell them your story, here are their email address.

[email protected]
[email protected]

Can you tell me what all this allows you to bake in your home. I live in WI and just got turned in to the Health Dept by someone so I am trying to figure out a way for me to be licensed.

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully this law will get passed next year so we can start baking and selling out of our home kitchens legally. As far as I know it includes, but isn't limited to breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, pastries, buns, rolls, biscuits, and pies (except meat or cream pies). Definitely please sign the petition and pass it on to friends and family members to sign as well. The more we get the better chance we all will have at starting our own companies

What happens when you are reported to the health department? Huge fine? Ive been doing this for a few months and its been growing. I have always had happy and appreciative customers...this weekend...not so much. She sounds like a very unhappy customer. AND I charged her LESS than I normally do too. Due to here being a young first time mom and a new customer. I'm worried that customers like this are going to me into the Health Department. Advice?

It is a $500 fine for selling out of your home. There are kitchens in Wisconsin that you can rent by the hour so you are running legal. I am renting one in Appleton to get my business started. Just google "kitchen for rent". There are other kitchens through out the state. It's really a good price too. You guy's should check into it. Its better then the fine and having the attention of the heath dept watching you.

That said I am signing the petition!