Florida Cottage Food Law · 2026
Can you sell homemade salsa in Florida?
NO — Not Allowed
No. Both fresh and jarred salsa are excluded — fresh salsa is perishable, and canned salsa is an acidified food that requires a special process approval cottage food law doesn't cover.
Why no?
Fresh salsa is a cut-vegetable product that requires refrigeration — potentially hazardous, not allowed. Jarred/canned salsa is an "acidified food," a category with real botulism risk that requires FDA-registered processing — far outside cottage food law.
Acidified foods (salsa, pickles, most hot sauces) are the most commonly misunderstood category in cottage food. No home process, pH strip, or water bath makes them legal to sell from a home kitchen in Florida.
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
Legal alternatives for salsa makers
- 1Sell dry salsa seasoning mixes — customers add tomatoes at home ("just add tomatoes!")
- 2Fruit-forward high-sugar options like mango or pineapple jam capture similar flavors legally
- 3Go commercial: an approved processing facility + FDACS food permit makes jarred salsa legal
- 4Co-packers can produce your recipe legally while you own the brand
Storage & refrigeration
Salsa isn't cottage-eligible because it needs refrigeration or special processing to be safe — it's a “potentially hazardous” food. Selling salsa from home would require a licensed, inspected facility, not the cottage food exemption.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming that because salsa can be shelf-stable, it's automatically allowed — it isn't
- Selling a refrigeration-required or specially-processed food without a licensed facility
- Relying on a booth or online store to hide a product that isn’t cottage-eligible
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
What if my salsa is really acidic — can I test the pH?
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No. Acidified foods require a certified process authority and permits regardless of your home pH readings. It's about validated process control, not one measurement.
Can I sell fresh pico de gallo at a farmers market?
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No — fresh-cut produce salsas are perishable prepared foods and need a food service license.
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.
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Educational information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with FDACS. Based on Florida Statute 500.80 as of 2026.