Selling food you made at home in Arkansas

Where you may sell

• Direct to the person eating it, in person, by phone or online
• A shop at your own farm, home or office
• Farmers markets
• Through an agent or a third-party shop or grocer

Posting it to customers: Allowed, and Arkansas is one of the few states that lets you post shelf-stable food across a state line, as long as you meet federal law. Courier and parcel post are both fine.

Worth knowing

• The label must say, word for word: "This product was produced in a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens." Add the date, your name, address and phone or your Agriculture ID, the food's usual name, and the ingredients biggest first.
• Shelf-stable food only. Pickled and acidified things need an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or less, proved by an approved recipe, a process authority or a calibrated meter with batch records.
• Out: meat, poultry, seafood, game, dairy, cut greens, cut tomatoes and melons, garlic in oil, sprouts, cheesecake, cream and custard pies, tamales, nut butters and cold brew coffee.
• Jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters and syrups made with a sugar substitute or reduced sugar are not allowed. Nor are pumpkin, squash or sweet potato butters, refrigerator jam, bacon jam, or pepper jelly with whole pieces of pepper in it.
• You cannot sell to a restaurant to use, or to anyone who will resell it.
• Counties and cities cannot ban homemade food, but a business licence and tax still apply, and the Act gives you no protection if somebody gets ill.

Where to actually sell it in Arkansas

179 farmers markets and farm stands, which is one of the few places the rules above allow.

Markets in Arkansas

Every state