About 3 years ago I started planting pomegranates with the intention of sharing them with my friends/family and then eventually going to the local farmers markets. I have asked 4 or 5 different people and gotten 4 or 5 different answers concerning an idea I had. I want to sell the pomegranate arils so people can walk around the market enjoying them while they shop. Some people I have spoken to say this is a great idea (my wife), others say I will instantly be imprisoned without bail for serving processed food (my father in law ) .
I did some research and this all seems to be covered by something called Cottage Food laws but as much as I read, I can't really get a clear idea if arils would be considered a cottage food (in which case I should be able to sell them w/o much regulation) or they are not (in which case I would need some license stuff. There are a wide array of "prepared" foods that are considered cottage like jams.
Does anybody have any experience with this or know who I could contact to discuss this. I understand these laws vary from county to county, state to state, but I am still interested in your experiences. I am in Fresno county California. I appreciate any information you have.
) .