On Friday November 21, 2008 I had my home kitchen certified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture . This certification enables me to bake from home and sell to restaurants, retail establishments, the internet, or down at the local farmers' market.
This certification was a fairly easy process. First I put in a call to the Department of AG. I was then sent a letter of specifics for qualification and the number to my local inspector. The appointment for inspection was scheduled within two weeks of the call, plenty of time to prepare.
Unlike many of the horror stories I had heard about home inspections, my kitchen passed without a headache. Maybe it was the fact that I have worked in the restaurant industry and had a general idea of what they would be looking for.
Having my kitchen inspected opens up a new area of revenue for me and my family. I plan to market my home baked goods to parents and teachers of elementary aged children that are looking for a healthy treat for school celebrations. With the passing of the Wellness Policy two years ago, parents must meet certain nutritional guidelines when sending in food for birthdays or holiday celebrations. I hope that parents will find my services a helpful alternative when celebrating in school.
As for my family, we've already put the kitchen to work. A batch of homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies sold at the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market this morning netted half of the cost to cover an upcoming field trip for my own fourth grader.
On EpiCourier.com you'll soon find a menu of items that will be available, so keep reading.
Donna Myers