Regulations for selling eggs?

[Teresa]

Where does one go to find the regulations for selling eggs?

Do any of you run a CSA type operation?

Thanks!

Teresa

[Michael Akey]

Check with your state department of health. Regulations vary widely
among states.

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[Robert Plamondon]

On Dec 12, 5:35 am, Michael Akey <michaela...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Check with your state department of health.  Regulations vary widely  
> among states.

Here in the Promised Land of Oregon, sales of eggs directly to the
consumer are completely unregulated. If you're selling to non-
consumers (via stores, restaurants, etc.), you need an Egg Handler's
License, which is about as hard to get as the Home Kitchen License
people get so they can sell jam or pies. Most states are less laid
back and mellow than this.

Sadly, the local farmers' markets are less Oregonian than this, and
require that we clear various unnecessary hurdles. The Corvallis/
Albany Farmers' Markets require that egg sellers have an unnecessary
license AND unnecessary insurance. I suppose I should support this,
since I'm the largest and best-established egg vendor at the market,
and this rule discourages competition. But I think it's disgusting.

Robert Plamondon
http://www.plamondon.com

[Katrina]

Hello Theresa,

I run a meat and egg CSA in Ohio. I also sell the same at a farmers
market. Eggs are sold unwashed and ungraded. No permits neccessary
as long as I have under 500 hens here (1000 poultry total). I do have
to have a mobile food retail license. Refrigeration was the big
obstacle here. Regulations for my county require mechanical
refrigeration rather than ice/coolers. I got that set up this
summer. I use 2 4.6cf refrigerators powered by a 120AH marine
battery and a 750watt power inverter. I put all that in the back of my
explorer and sell from the back of the truck. Prior to that, I sold
meat and eggs by taking orders at the farmers market and customers
would pick up at the farm (I have realllllly dedicated customers). If
you have any specific questions, lemme know. See my website for more
details.

Take care,
Katrina
www.saltoftheearthfarm.com

[Jane Rutzler]

Nice site Katrina..I like your black piggies too, and of course, choice of chickens... --- On Sun, 12/13/09, Katrina <kko...@earthlink.net> wrote:

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[Chris Squires]

In NY State you ask the Agricultural & Markets division. Each state has
its own rules and regulations -- may be health department, agricultural
department or a number of other named entities. The only consistency
among states is that the land-grant colleges (State Colleges) tend to
have extension agents for the purpose of educating farmers and
amateurs. Some of them are quite knowledgeable about this stuff and
can tell you where to go to get the rules and permits -- or if you even
need them.

Chris
Little Biddy Farm

--

"Humankind cannot take too much reality."
T.S. Eliot

[Michael Akey]

The only problem Ive found with the Ag Extension folks is that they
tend to know big ag and overlook small ag needs. They are trained to
solve big ag problems. Some of them know next to nothing about
organics, small scale ag, or at least they dont really care about
small scale ag. Sort of a shame, really.

[Jane Rutzler]

Here ya go..maybe someone can translate...haha! http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/fs/general/04circs/Circular854_eggs.html --- On Mon, 12/14/09, Chris Squires <pie...@earthlink.net> wrote:

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[Jane Rutzler]

Thats for sure... --- On Mon, 12/14/09, Michael Akey <micha...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Michael Akey <micha...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Grass-Fed-Eggs] 1252 Re: 1199 Regulations for selling eggs? To: grass-f...@googlegroups.com

> "grass-fed-eggs+unsub...@googlegroups.com"

> Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator: robertp...@gmail.com > Visit this discussion group at > http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs?hl=en > Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site at http://www.grass-fed-eggs.com -- To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com Change your subscription options at http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs/subscribe (Google account required) To unsubscribe, send email to

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[Robert Plamondon]

On Dec 14, 6:22 pm, Michael Akey <michaela...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The only problem Ive found with the Ag Extension folks is that they  
> tend to know big ag and overlook small ag needs.  They are trained to  
> solve big ag problems.   Some of them know next to nothing about  
> organics, small scale ag, or at least they dont really care about  
> small scale ag.  Sort of a shame, really.

The Extension Service has always followed the mainstream of
agriculture, as you'd expect from something funded with taxpayer
money. So today, the poultry specialists focus on giant commercial
flocks, but 50-75 years ago, they focused on much smaller flocks
(50-500 hens), because that was the most common size at the time. This
is why it's so useful to study Extension Service bulletins from
between, say 1930 and 1960. The issues facing mainstream poultry
farmers back then were much the same as those facing alternative
farmers, hobby farmers, and backyarders today.

Robert Plamondon
http://www.plamondon.com

[Chris Squires]

Thanks, Jane.
OK, here is my take on the NY State regulations:
-- If you call the eggs "Fresh," this is not a substitute for
grading, but, the eggs better be no worse than requirements for Grade A.
-- To be a particular grade, the eggs have to be 80-90% true to type,
depending on the particular grade -- if 90% of your eggs fit the
description of grade A, you are fine, so far as calling them "Fresh."
-- You can't use false or misleading advertising on your signs or
packages. Lettering must be at least 3/8 inch high, printed or
hand-written. No abbreviations of the grade or size..
-- When you put eggs in a carton, you are a "packager" and it looks
like you need to identify yourself or your flock.
-- Food products -- like fresh eggs -- need to be kept at or below 45
degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
-- If any of the eggs have been refrigerated for over 30 days, they
need to be labeled "refrigerated" or "cold storage."
-- If you sell eggs that you have produced directly to the consumer
(person, restaurant, hotel, school, just about any place that will use
them or present them in a prepared form) you do not have to grade or
size the eggs.
-- If you are a wholesaler or retailer, you do have to grade or size
the eggs.
-- If you sell your eggs to a retailer, they may need to be graded in
order to be legally sold by the retailer. If you grade your eggs, you
have to mark each package and give an invoice to the wholesaler or
retailer. The invoice must state date of delivery and specify cartons
or cases of each grade/size.

Whew! Now I'm tired! But confident that the eggs are legal. :)

Chris
Little Biddy Farm

Jane Rutzler wrote:
> Here ya go..maybe someone can translate...haha!
>
> http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/fs/general/04circs/Circular854_eggs.html
>

[Jane Rutzler]

Yes, I am sure they have to regulate what is sold to larger mass of the public..but small flocks and being sold to local people probably they let go...

--- On Wed, 12/16/09, Chris Squires <pie...@earthlink.net> wrote:

From: Chris Squires <pie...@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [Grass-Fed-Eggs] 1293 Re: 1199 Regulations for selling eggs? To: grass-f...@googlegroups.com