Dried goods are some of the best products a Florida cottage food maker can sell: they're shelf-stable, they ship well, and they don't spoil at a slow market. But two questions come up constantly — can I sell dehydrated foods? and can I sell homemade extracts?The short answers are “usually yes” and “be careful.” Here's the rundown, then the equipment makers use.
Dehydrated foods: generally allowed
Fully dried, shelf-stable foods — dried fruit, fruit leathers, granola, dried herbs, and dehydrated mixes — fit Florida cottage food law because they need no refrigeration. Even dehydrated sourdough starteris generally treated as a dried shelf-stable good. Dry ferments are a gray area, so confirm your exact product with FDACS, but there's rarely a reason it would be rejected.
Homemade extracts: confirm before you sell
Homemade vanilla, cinnamon, and lemon extracts are traditionally made by steeping the flavor in alcohol (vodka or other spirits). Alcohol is regulated separately — outside Florida cottage food law and FDACS. Our own allowed-foods list names alcoholic beverages as notpermitted, and while an extract isn't a beverage, anything made with and containing alcohol lives in an uncertain space.
What to do:confirm with FDACS before selling any alcohol-based extract. If it's a no-go, ask about glycerin (alcohol-free) versions, which often qualify. The vanilla-bean kits below are perfect for personal use and for testing recipes while you confirm what you're cleared to sell.
The equipment & ingredients
Osluken 1100W Food Dehydrator Machine
A powerful multi-tray dehydrator for dried fruit, jerky-style snacks, fruit leathers, and dehydrated sourdough starter — all shelf-stable goods that fit cottage food rules.
Electactic Food Dehydrator
A stackable-tray dehydrator for year-round dried snacks — a lower-cost entry point for makers testing whether dried goods sell before investing in a bigger unit.
Vanilla Bean Kings — Homemade Vanilla Extract Kit
Grade-A vanilla beans for making your own extract at home. NOTE: homemade extracts are usually alcohol-based, and alcohol falls outside Florida cottage food law — check with FDACS before selling extracts (see the compliance note on the page).
Vanilla Bean Kings — Organic Vanilla Extract
Ready-made organic vanilla extract — the simplest way to level up cookies, cakes, and frostings when you would rather buy quality than brew your own.
Quick answers
Can I sell dehydrated foods in Florida?
Yes — fully dried, shelf-stable foods like dried fruit, fruit leathers, granola, and dehydrated mixes are generally permitted. Dehydrated sourdough starter is generally fine too. Confirm gray-area products with FDACS.
Can I sell homemade vanilla extract?
Be careful — homemade extracts are usually alcohol-based, and alcohol is regulated outside cottage food law. Confirm with FDACS first; ask about glycerin (alcohol-free) versions if alcohol-based extracts aren't allowed.
Affiliate Disclosure
This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com. If you purchase through these links, Florida Cottage Foods may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This article is general information, not legal advice — always confirm your specific products with FDACS. See our full affiliate disclosure.
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