Florida Cottage Food Law · 2026
Can you sell freeze-dried candy in Florida?
YES — Allowed
Yes. Freeze-dried candy (Skittles, taffy, gummies) is treated as a candy/confection — allowed under Florida's cottage food law, and one of the hottest products right now.
Why yes?
Freeze-drying removes moisture, making an already shelf-stable candy even more shelf-stable. FDACS treats freeze-dried candies as confections, which are allowed cottage foods.
This is one of the fastest-growing cottage niches: viral on social media, high perceived value, and margins that can beat even spice blends once the freeze-dryer pays for itself. Note the equipment is the barrier — home freeze-dryers run $2,000–$3,500.
Florida Cottage Food Law: Key Facts
Updated July 2026- Permit required: None — no license, permit, or FDACS registration for cottage foods
- Legal basis: Florida Statute 500.80
- Annual sales cap: $250,000 gross per year
- The rule: Only non-potentially-hazardous foods (safe at room temperature)
- Sales channel: Direct to consumers in Florida only — no wholesale
- Labels: 6 required elements, including the cottage food statement
How to sell freeze-dried candy legally
- 1Package in airtight mylar or zip pouches with desiccant to survive humidity
- 2Label the ORIGINAL candy's ingredients (you must list what's in what you processed)
- 3Name brands: describe the product ("freeze-dried rainbow candy"), don't misuse trademarks in your branding
- 4Reels of the freeze-drying process are your best free marketing
Storage & refrigeration
Freeze-Dried Candy qualifies because it's shelf-stable — safe at room temperature. Keep it that way: the moment you add a cream or custard filling, fresh dairy, or anything that needs refrigeration, it stops being a cottage food. Store and transport freeze-dried candy at room temperature and it stays compliant.
How to label freeze-dried candy
Every package of freeze-dried candy you sell needs a compliant label with all 6 required elements:
- 1Your cottage food business name and address
- 2The product name
- 3Ingredients, listed in descending order by weight
- 4Net weight or quantity
- 5Allergen declaration (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish)
- 6The cottage food statement (exact wording, below)
“Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations.”
This statement must appear word-for-word.
Where you can sell freeze-dried candy in Florida
Cottage food is sold direct to the customer, within Florida. For freeze-dried candy, that means:
✅ Allowed
- Farmers markets, fairs & events
- Home pickup and local delivery
- Online, phone & mail order — delivered in Florida
🚫 Not allowed
- Wholesale to stores/restaurants for resale
- Selling or shipping outside Florida
- More than $250,000 in gross sales per year
Pricing freeze-dried candy for profit
Add up your cost per unit (ingredients + packaging), multiply by 3–4× to cover your time and overhead, then sanity-check against what similar makers charge locally. Undercharging is the single most common mistake — your time is a real cost, not a freebie.
Free recipe cost calculatorCommon mistakes to avoid
- Underpricing — not counting your time, packaging, and market fees
- Missing a required label element, especially the exact cottage food statement
- Adding a filling or frosting that needs refrigeration, which quietly turns compliant freeze-dried candy non-compliant
- Selling across state lines or wholesale to a shop for resale
- Losing track of the $250,000/year gross sales cap
Not sure about a different product?
Check any food against Florida's rules in seconds with our free tool — then price it and label it with the rest of the toolkit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I freeze-dry and sell fruit too?
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Yes — fully dried/freeze-dried fruits are shelf-stable and allowed. Ensure complete drying so no moisture remains.
Do I have to list Skittles' ingredients on my label?
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Yes. Your label must list the ingredients of the candy you processed, copied from the original packaging, in descending order.
People also ask about
Official Florida sources
FDACS — Cottage Foods
Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services — the official cottage food program.
Florida Statute 500.80
The cottage food law itself, on the Florida Legislature's official site.
This is general educational information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — always verify current requirements with FDACS before you sell.
Ready to start selling?
Get the step-by-step startup guide, free pricing tools, and a spot in Florida's cottage food directory.
Educational information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with FDACS. Based on Florida Statute 500.80 as of 2026.