Farm Markets
This Ohio Department of Agriculture resource lays out what the state means by a “farm market” and how licensing works for different kinds of products sold there. It’s written in a straightforward Q&A style, focusing on when a farm market can be exempt from a Retail Food Establishment (RFE) license and when it can’t.
It will be most useful for farm market operators (or aspiring operators) who are planning a product mix and want a clearer sense of the compliance path. Home cooks may also find it helpful if they’re curious why some farm stands sell only certain items, or why others operate more like a conventional retail food business.
Key takeaways
- Definition: A farm market is described as a producer-operated facility offering fresh fruits and vegetables and other food items for sale.
- Exemption depends on foods and registration: Not all farm markets are exempt from an RFE license; exemption is based on the types of foods offered and registration with ODA’s Division of Food Safety.
- Exempt product list: Exempt farm markets are limited to specific items, including fresh unprocessed produce; properly labeled maple syrup, sorghum, or honey; properly labeled cottage foods; properly labeled on-site manufactured cider/juices; and certain raw eggs, poultry, and non-amenable meat under stated conditions.
- Adding other foods changes licensing: The piece says farm markets can sell items like milk and cheese, but doing so ends the exemption and requires an RFE license through the local health department.
- Oversight differs by status: Non-exempt farm markets are licensed and regulated by the local health department under Chapter 3717 and the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code, while exempt registered farm markets are inspected by ODA’s Division of Food Safety.