Preserves
Jams, jellies and marmalades are the standard cottage food; pickles are not.
Cottage Food EligibleHigh sugarShelf-stable
pH 4.6Acid line
LocalPermit from your town
NoneAnnual sales cap
What is covered and what needs a different path
What this guide covers
- Fruit jams and jellies
- Marmalades
- Fruit butters meeting standards
- Honey and maple spreads
Needs a different path
- Pickles, salsa, chutney (acidified foods)
- Low-acid spreads
- Wholesale from a residential kitchen
- Reduced-sugar products needing refrigeration
Three compliance steps
A
Apply for the permit
Apply to your city or town Board of Health for a Residential Kitchen (cottage food) permit. Fees are set locally; Boston lists $100.
B
Make only non-TCS foods
Foods that do not need time or temperature control for safety. Anything needing refrigeration, or a pH or water-activity process, moves to a licensed kitchen.
C
Label and sell direct
Sell directly to consumers. Label with name, address, ingredients, allergens, net weight and the residential-kitchen statement. Wholesale needs a DPH license.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Jam and jelly | Cottage-eligible | 105 CMR 590.010(F) |
| Pickles | Licensed facility, acidified foods | FDA 21 CFR 114 |
| Label | Ingredients, allergens, net weight | FDA |
| Standards | Fruit and sugar standards | FDA 21 CFR 150 |
| Weights | Sealed scale | MA Division of Standards |
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell pickles?Not from a residential kitchen.
Do jams need a pH test?A test is advised for safety.
Do I need a scale?Yes if sold by weight.
Printable checklist
- Permit in hand
- Recipe tested
- Label complete
- Allergens declared
- Net weight
- Residential kitchen statement
- Scale sealed