Minnesota direct-to-consumer guide, 2026
Honey
Honey from your own hives, sold direct.
Farm ExemptWhat is covered and what needs a different path
What’s covered
- Honey from hives you own, extracted and bottled by you
- Comb honey and creamed honey with no added ingredients
- Sales direct to consumers at home, markets, and online
Needs a different path
- Honey bought from other beekeepers (needs a license)
- Infused or blended honey with added ingredients (cottage rules or a license)
- Products that look like honey but are not honey
Three compliance steps
Keep it pure
Pure honey from your own bees is a farm product and generally excluded from licensing. Added ingredients or buying honey from others changes the path.
Label honestly
Use the word honey only for real honey, with net weight, your name and address, and an accurate origin. Minnesota prohibits imitation honey claims.
Sell and tax right
Honey is exempt food. Flavored or sweetened candy-style products are taxable.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Producers selling a product of their own farm are generally excluded | MDA |
| Water content | Honey as defined has 25 percent water or less | Minn. Stat. 31.74 |
| Imitation honey | Cannot be labeled or sold as honey | Minn. Stat. 31.74 |
| Infused honey | Falls to cottage or licensed rules | MDA |
| Sales tax | Honey is exempt food | MN Revenue |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to sell my own honey?
MDA says own-farm products are generally excluded from licensing. Honey with added ingredients or from other producers is different.
Can I sell raw honey?
Yes. Raw is a description, not a license category, but it must meet the honey definition.
Do I need a pH or water test?
Test moisture to stay within 25 percent. Fermenting honey above that is a quality and legal risk.
Printable checklist
- Honey from your own hives only
- Moisture reading under 25 percent
- Label with name, address, net weight
- No added ingredients (or move to cottage)
- Tax: honey exempt, candy-style products taxable
The own-farm licensing exclusion is from MDA’s general statement; no honey-specific MDA page was found.