Caroline Hargraves, Director - Marketing and Economic Development Division

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Utah Farmers Market Network Forum 2.1.2025

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Navigating the Regulatory Landscape

Introduction: Marketing and Economic Development Division

Our Core Focus:

• Promoting Utah’s Agricultural Products
• Supporting the Growth of Utah’s Ag and Food Industries
• Increasing Market Access for Producers

Introduction: Marketing and Economic Development Division

Key Programs:

• Utah’s Own
• Farm to School

(UT Farm to Fork)

• Utah Agritourism
• International Trade
• SW Regional Food Business Center

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Grant Programs:

• Utah Food Security Processing Grant (opening May 1)
• Specialty Crop Block Grant
• Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant

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Our Partner:

Regulatory Services Division

Core Focus:

• Protecting public health and ensuring a safe, wholesome, and trustworthy food supply
• Empowering businesses to confidently meet food safety, labeling, and compliance standards
• Ensuring an equitable marketplace - labeling, weights & measures

Regulatory Services: Key Areas of Oversight

• Food safety
• Inspections
• Licensing / permits
• Compliance and support
• Outbreak response and recalls

Other UDAF Divisions:

• Office of the Commissioner
• Admin Services
• Animal Industry
• Conservation
• Laboratory Services
• Marketing and Economic

Development

• Plant Industry
• Regulatory Services
• Specialized Products
• Utah Grazing Improvement Program

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ag.utah.gov/newsletters

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Why Regulations Matter for Farmers Markets

• Supporting safe and successful markets
• Building consumer trust - and sales
• Ensuring a stable market
• Ensuring safe products

Our New Regulatory Navigator Position

http://swfoodbiz.org

A dedication position within UDAF focus on developing plain-language tools and guidance to help farmers, market managers, and vendors better understand and meet regulatory requirements.

• Natalie Kane - nkane@utah.gov, (801)910-6627

Market Manager Responsibilities

As a manager, it’s your responsibility to ensure that each vendor has the proper permits and licenses in order to protect public safety. Vendors who sell at farmers markets in Utah are regulated by different entities – federal, state, and/or local.

Utah Farmers Market Network

Market Manager Handbook

Key Regulatory Bodies

Food service - Seven Utah health departments are single-county districts and 6 are multi-county districts. Source: ualhd.org.

Local Health Departments

Police or Fire Dept Approval

Local Government

UDAF

Permitting and inspections.

Cooperative agreements with USDA and FDA.

Special event permits

Approval may be needed for things like road closures

Registering with UDAF

• Farmers Markets - typically classified as “outdoor market”
• Food Establishment Permit from UDAF is required annually
• Must contact UDAF 30 days prior to operation
• Communicate early and often
• *Direct-to-Sale Markets: (raw, uncut produce and H.B. 181 only) no permit fee, but must register with UDAF

See page 31 of Market Manager handbook for more information.

Avenues for Home-produced Foods

• Cottage Foods Program
• H.B. 181 - Home Consumption and Homemade Foods Act

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Each option has unique opportunities and limitations market managers should be aware of.

*Neither can be sold across state lines, nor can they contain meat or raw dairy products.

Cottage Foods Program

• Allows an individual with a valid food handlers permit to make and/or package certain allowable foods in their own home kitchen after receiving approval through the registration process.
• Must register with UDAF as a Cottage Food Establishment
• Product and label reviews are required before food can be sold
• Products must be pre-packaged for sale
• Examples of permitted foods: breads, cakes, spice mixes, jams, cookies
• Not allowed: refrigerated or frozen food, meat products, cheese cakes, other canned or high-risk foods.

Managers must verify UDAF Food Establishment Permit

H.B. 181 Home Consumption Homemade Food Act

• Allows for home produced foods - does not require inspection or permit
• No products with raw dairy or meat
• must be labeled as “Not for Resale” and “Processed and prepared without the benefit of state or local inspection”
• Can only be sold at exclusive “Direct-to-Sale Markets” or in designated, cordoned-off sections of a farmers market, with specific signage indicating this to consumers.

Partnering for Success: How Market Managers Can Help Vendors Navigate Regulations

• Be proactive - it’s easier to address problems before they begin
• Build relationships with your vendors and our compliance team
• Education - Consider hosting a pre-season info session with your vendors
• When in doubt - reach out!

On the Horizon: Creating Tools for Success

• Step-by-step guides to help vendors understand what licenses or permits they need and how to get them
• Vendor and market manager checklists
• Plain language documents & website updates
• “Ask a Regulator” Drop-in Office Hours
• We want to hear from you! What tools would be helpful to you or your vendors?

Key UDAF Contacts:

Travis Waller

Director, Regulatory Services

twaller@utah.gov

General Information:

801.982.2252

agriculture@utah.gov

Cole Dalton

Retail Food Program Manager

cbdalton@utah.gov, 385.332.1499

Coreen Cogswell

Manufactured Food Program Manager

ccogswell@utah.gov, 801.699.2055

Rebecca Nielsen

Cottage Foods, H.B. 181, Labeling

rjnielsen@utah.gov, 385.799.0281

Natalie Kane

Marketing, Regulatory Navigator

nkane@utah.gov

Caroline Hargraves, UDAF Director Marketing and Economic Development

carolinehargraves@utah.gov

385.867.0901

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When In Doubt - Reach Out!