Wisconsinites who bake food at home for sale in their communities could find their incomes dramatically curtailed under legislation recently introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. Assembly Bill 897, introduced by Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) and Rep. Chanz Green (R-Grand View), would impose a $20,000 cap on the annual gross sales of Wisconsin cottage food producers.

A similar measure, Senate Bill 813, introduced by Sen. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere) and Sen. Duey Strobel (R-Saukville), would set the earnings cap at $25,000, still one of the lowest amounts in the nation for at-home producers who sell only shelf-stable food.

“Cottage food is, broadly speaking, homemade, home-grown, small batch food,” said Kriss Marion, who with her husband owns a bed and breakfast on their Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville, Wis. “It’s what consumers want more than ever, post-COVID — to be close to the source of the products they buy. They want to know and trust their makers.”

Bill supporters argue that this cap is necessary to ensure fair competition.

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