Michigan’s home-based honey and maple syrup producers could benefit from legislation unanimously passed by the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 1.
“This is a simple but important bill for those that are in the industry of maple syrup and honey production,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing).
He explained before the committee that Senate Bill 882 would increase the annual sales cap for honey and maple syrup producers.
“Under our cottage food laws, a number of years ago we changed the (sales) cap to $25,000 on an annual basis, but unfortunately our honey and maple syrup producers are at $15,000.”
He says the bill will create parity for all individuals operating under the state’s Cottage Food law, which provides guidelines for smaller-scale or home-based food producers.
Singh concluded his testimony by suggesting that the Legislature consider further improvements to the Cottage Food Law next year.
“The Cottage Food Law has been an incredible opportunity for incubating small businesses providing opportunities for those to generate revenue within their families on projects that they care about,” he said.
James Lee, president of the Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan and a Wayne County Farm Bureau member, also testified in support of the bill.
“Individuals who are engaged in this … spend a great deal of time marketing their products be it through farmers markets, individual sales or even as an online business,” Lee said. “They end up producing a fair amount of honey, and it’s very easy — especially in today’s economy — to accomplish a sale of $15,000 and at that point the cost prohibitive nature of the material and equipment that we use to process these things are challenging and expensive in and of itself.
“It’s important to us to see that ceiling is raised for us and that we have parity, but also that we make room for other individuals that are on that cusp…to escalate into that niche.”
Michigan Farm Bureau supports the legislation, along with the Michigan Beekeepers Association, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Farmers Market Association, and Michigan Food Processors Association. Additionally, nearly 100 individual beekeepers and honey producers submitted letters of support the committee.
The bill unanimously passed the committee with yes votes from Sens. Sue Shink (D-Ann Arbor), John Cherry (D-Flint), Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) and Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton).
The legislation now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
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