Michigan direct-to-consumer compliance guide, 2026

Vegetables

Whole, uncut vegetables sell license-free; cut, cooked, canned and sprouted products need other routes.

Farm Exempt (Whole, Uncut)

YesWhat's covered

  • Whole, uncut, fresh vegetables at farm markets and roadside stands
  • Dehydrated vegetables and vegetable or herb chips (kale chips)
  • Raw or dried mushrooms (see Mushrooms)
  • Sales in Michigan with local ordinance compliance

NoNeeds a different path

  • Cut, washed or ready-to-eat produce without a license
  • Cut tomatoes or chopped leafy greens as cottage items
  • Cooked vegetable products
  • Canned or pickled vegetables

Three compliance steps

  1. A

    Sell whole and uncut

    Produce stands selling only whole, uncut fresh vegetables are exempt from licensing.

  2. B

    Use cottage for dried products

    Dehydrated vegetable and chips qualify, excluding cut tomatoes, leafy greens and sprouts.

  3. C

    Move cut and canned items to licensed route

    Anyone selling cut, washed or ready-to-eat produce requires a license at a base facility.

Quick reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Whole fresh vegetablesNo food license for uncut produce standsMDARD
Cut or ready-to-eatLicense at base facilityMDARD
Dehydrated and chipsCottage allowed except cut tomatoes, leafy greensMDARD
Raw seed sproutsNot allowedMDARD
Canned or pickledNot allowed as cottage foodMDARD
Sales taxUnprepared vegetables exemptMI Treasury

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell pre-washed salad mix?

That is cut and washed produce requiring a license.

Can I sell kale chips?

Yes, vegetable chips are allowed under cottage rules.

Do I need a potato dealer license?

MDARD licenses wholesale potato dealers; retail stands are different.

Printable checklist