Understanding South Dakota Cottage Food Laws 2026

The South Dakota Fruit and Vegetable Grower Group and the Farmers Market Coalition were joined by Curtis Braun, SDSU Extension Food Safety Field Specialist in a discussion on South Dakota's cottage food laws. Curtis provides an overview of South Dakota's cottage food laws including permitted products, canning and labeling requirements, where products can legally be sold, and commercial licensing exemptions. At the end, we hear questions and case studies from South Dakota producers that can help anyone understand how to apply the laws to their operation. Curtis Braun is the SDSU Extension Food Safety Field Specialist, bringing experience in food processing, manufacturing, risk assessment and product development. He has worked closely with South Dakota food entrepreneurs to help bring value-added products, such as processed goods across multiple categories, to market safely and in compliance with state regulations. Funding for this project was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program award 25SCBPSD1322. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.