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Category 8 of 25 · Hawaii

Dried Goods

Dehydrated Fruit, Jerky & Dry Mixes

Cottage Food Eligible (Plant) / Licensed (Meat Jerky)
Cottage eligible
Dried produce
Licensed facility
Meat jerky
HDOH
Agency
4.5%
GET

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ What's Covered

  • Dehydrated fruits, vegetables, and dry seasoning/soup mixes sold direct under the cottage exemption
  • Dried herbs, granolas, trail mixes, and shelf-stable dry baking mixes
  • Meat or fish jerky made in an HDOH-permitted facility following a validated drying/curing process
  • Wholesale of non-TCS dried plant goods to permitted retailers

✕ Needs More

  • Meat, poultry, or fish jerky made in a home kitchen for sale — animal-protein jerky is TCS/high-risk and needs a licensed, validated process, not the cottage exemption
  • Dried goods with inadequate moisture reduction (water activity too high) risking mold/bacterial growth
  • Selling without the food-safety course and proper allergen labeling
  • Shipping dried goods out of state under the cottage exemption (in-state only)

How to Get Compliant

A

Confirm plant-based vs. animal-based

Dried fruit, vegetables, and mixes are cottage-eligible; any meat, poultry, or fish jerky requires a licensed HDOH facility with a validated lethality process.

B

Complete cottage requirements (plant goods)

Food-safety course, then label with home-kitchen disclaimer, ingredients, allergens, and contact info.

C

License a facility for jerky

Work with HDOH to validate your drying/curing process and obtain a food establishment permit before selling any animal-protein dried product.

Quick Reference

Sales ChannelRequirementNotes
Dried fruit/vegetable, direct saleCottage course + labelStandard cottage item
Trail mix / dry soup mixCottage course + labelWatch for allergen disclosure on nut/soy content
Meat or fish jerkyHDOH permit + validated processNever cottage-eligible
Wholesale of dried plant goodsCottage course + labelNon-TCS only, per Act 195

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dehydrate and sell mango or banana chips from home?
Yes, dried fruit is a standard cottage-eligible product with no permit required, just the food-safety course and proper labeling.
Can I make and sell beef or fish jerky from my kitchen?
No — jerky is a TCS meat/fish product requiring a licensed facility with a validated drying process to control bacterial risk.
Do dry mixes need allergen labeling?
Yes, list all ingredients and flag major allergens including sesame, tree nuts, and soy.
Can I sell dried goods online to the mainland?
The cottage exemption only covers in-state sale/shipment; interstate sale would need a commercial/licensed setup.

Printable Checklist