Mississippi direct-to-consumer compliance, guide 8 of 24

Dried Goods

Dried fruit, pasta, granola, popcorn and dry mixes all qualify as cottage foods.

Cottage Food Eligible
$35,000gross annual sales cap
No melonsexcluded from dried and chocolate fruit
Dry onlyno refrigeration needed
In persondirect sale only

What is covered

  • Dried fruit (except melons), dried pasta, dry baking mixes
  • Granola, cereal and trail mixes, popcorn
  • Candy, nut mixes and chocolate-covered pretzels, nuts and fruit

Needs a different path

  • Dried vegetables and jerky (not on List 1; confirm with MSDH)
  • Mixes containing dairy or perishable ingredients
  • Sales online, by mail or to stores

Three compliance steps

  1. A

    Check List 1

    Confirm the item is named on the MSDH cottage list. Dried fruit, pasta, granola and dry mixes are.

  2. B

    Package and label

    Seal against pests and moisture, then add the full cottage label with allergens and net weight.

  3. C

    Sell direct

    Sell in Mississippi, in person, up to $35,000 a year.

Quick reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Dried fruitAllowed, except melonsMSDH
Dried pastaAllowedMSDH
Dry baking mixesAllowedMSDH
Granola, cereal, trail mixAllowedMSDH
Dried vegetablesNot named on cottage list; confirm before sellingMSDH
LabelCottage label with disclaimer in 10-point typeMSDH

Common questions

Can I sell dried mango at a market?

Yes. Only melons are excluded from dried and chocolate-covered fruit.

Can I sell my mix at a local shop?

No. Cottage foods go only to the final customer, not to retail or wholesale buyers.

Do I need to analyze nutrition?

Not unless you make a nutrition claim such as low, light or good source.

Printable checklist