Cottage Bakery
What is a cottage bakery? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture outlines specific rules for food establishments selling non-hazardous food items. Known as a Limited Food Establishment, small businesses across the state are inspected and licensed to process foods made in a home-style kitchen. There are specific rules and guidelines the business must follow, however, in order to meet sanitation guidelines.
The products being made need to be free from any strict temperature controls. In other words, the final food product does not require to be held at a certain temperature in order to maintain sanitation and avoid developing bacteria. Pets are also prohibited from entering the area where the food is made, and raw product cannot be carried through an area where the pet is allowed to roam. We believe that pets bring joy to any home, so we deliberately built our bakery in a detached building, away from our primary residence. That way we can always have furry friends in our home and not make sacrifices to keep them out!
On top of these rules, children are also not allowed in the food processing area while it is being prepped. We are also not allowed to cook domestic meals at the same time. Once again, our separate building, which houses Joyful Rides Co, solves these problems by creating a completely exclusive space where we can focus on bundling joy into every cookie, all while maintaining cleanliness standards!
There may be a number of other rules to follow under the Food Safety Act, and once those controls are in place, a Limited Food Establishment must then file an application with the state that includes a business plan. An inspector will then be scheduled to arrive at the food processing area to ensure that all applicable sanitary controls are in place, and customers can rely on consuming products safely.
We are proud to announce that we are a Pennsylvania Licensed and Inspected Cottage Bakery and, while we do not have house loads of commercial kitchen processing products, we are ensuring every bite is made properly and carries that much more joy. Order cookies and cupcakes from our cottage bakery in New Florence, PA for your next party or wedding in Blairsville, Ligonier, or Latrobe!
