Thousands of Food Startups Pop Up In Minnesota, Thanks to New Cottage Food Law
Thanks to Minnesota’s recent Cottage Food Law, 2,300 food startups have popped up in the state. The law allows micro businesses that make under $18,000 a year to sell their products at co-ops, farmers’ markets and grocery stores without a license. Fermented foods are some of the most popular in the state’s wave of local food retailers because most fermented foods don’t require refrigeration and allow for creativity in the kitchen.
Read more (Twin Cities Pioneer Press)
- Published in Business
Pickle Juice Sports Drink Receives USDA Organic Certification
The Pickle Juice received its USDA organic certification, big news for the only trademarked pickle juice sports beverage. The bottled drink also recently earned its OU Kosher Certification. A healthier alternative than traditional sports drinks, The Pickle Juice has no artificial flavoring or preservatives, and contains 14 times the electrolytes found in an average sports drink. Perfect for athletes, scientific research shows that pickle juice relieves muscle cramps in 60 seconds.
Read more (BevNet)
- Published in Business
Lawmakers Push for KOMBUCHA Act, Aiming to Increase ABV Level for Kombucha
Lawmakers from Oregon and Colorado are advocating for a new bill that would modernize outdated federal alcohol taxes. Known as the KOMBUCHA Act (Keeping our Manufacturers from Being Unfairly Taxed while Championing Health Act), the bill aims to increase the ABV for kombucha from 0.5 percent to 1.25 percent so kombucha can be sold as a non-alcoholic beverage. Currently, many kombucha brewers are forced to pay an alcohol tax and abide by regulations intended for the alcohol industry. Kombucha Brewers International is lobbying for the bipartisan bill. You can signup to track the bill here, at congress.gov.
Read more (Kombucha Brewers International) & Read more (Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR)
- Published in Business
Texas Fermenters Hit Legislative Roadblock, Forced to Close Farm
Home fermenters are still hitting legislative roadblocks. A Texas law allows farmers and home cooks to sell their pickled goods without becoming licensed food manufacturers — as long as that pickled product is cucumber. The 2011 law oddly doesn’t permit any other pickled vegetable. A retired couple is suing the state over the restrictive law, arguing it hurt the financial viability of their farm which the couple was forced to close because they couldn’t sell their pickled beets.
Read More (The Texas Tribune)
- Published in Business
Gov Support of Fermented Foods to Rise, Study Concludes
In the next decade, the British Medical Journal predicts we will see more government support of fermented foods. The BMJ’s latest research says the gov needs to fund the research and innovation of fermented products, prebiotics and probiotics. Food industry and consumer demands are shifting to healthier foods, so the BMJ says it’s critical for public leadership to also promote a healthy diet. The government can give tax incentives and push fiscal policies that promote “research, development and marketing of healthier foods in the food industry,” encourages the BMJ, and penalize companies that market sugar-laden drinks and junk food.
Read more (British Medical Journal) (Photo: Foodies Feed)