How to Label Food for a Craft Fair
A craft fair booth is a great place to sell homemade treats, right next to the candles and the woodwork. The selling is direct, which keeps the rules simple, but each item a buyer carries home still needs its own label. Here is what goes on it.
Do you need a Nutrition Facts panel at a craft fair?
Panel usually not requiredA craft fair is usually direct-to-customer selling, the same footing as a farmers market. Most states exempt these cottage food sales from the full Nutrition Facts panel, while still requiring the ingredient list, allergen line, net weight, business information, and the home-kitchen disclaimer.
Nutripane builds the Nutrition Facts panel and the ingredient, allergen, and disclaimer label from your recipe, so you are ready whether this channel needs the panel or not.
What your label needs to sell at a craft fair
- ✓Product name. The common name of the food, so a buyer knows what it is.
- ✓Net quantity. The weight or count in the package, usually shown on the front.
- ✓Ingredient list. Every ingredient, listed heaviest-first by weight.
- ✓Allergen statement. A Contains line for any of the nine major allergens in your recipe.
- ✓Business name and address. Who made the food and where they can be reached.
- ✓Home-kitchen disclaimer. The cottage food sentence your state requires, for direct sales.
What is different when you sell at a craft fair
- ✓ Individually labeled packages, not one sign for a whole table
- ✓ An allergen Contains line on each item
- ✓ A temporary food permit if your event or city asks for one
One thing sellers miss selling at a craft fair
A single sign for the whole table is not a label. Each packaged item a buyer carries home needs its own ingredient list, allergen line, and disclaimer.
Popular foods to sell at a craft fair
Questions
Can I sell baked goods at a craft fair?
In many states, yes, as a cottage food sold directly to customers. You usually will not need a full Nutrition Facts panel, but each package needs the product name, net weight, ingredient list, allergen statement, business information, and your state's disclaimer. Some events also ask for a temporary food permit.
Does craft fair food need to be labeled?
Yes. Even when the panel is not required, every packaged item needs its own label with the ingredients, an allergen Contains line, the net weight, your business name and address, and the home-kitchen disclaimer. Nutripane prints a label for each product.
Read next
Selling somewhere else?
This page is general information, not legal advice. Food labeling, cottage food rules, and marketplace policies vary by state and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state's cottage food program and the place you plan to sell. See your state's rules or another channel.