Cottage Food Safety Training
Overview
Cottage Food Safety Training
Colorado Senate Bill 12-048 allows individuals to produce, sell and store certain types of “cottage food” products in an unlicensed home kitchen that are non-potentially hazardous and that do not require refrigeration. The Colorado Cottage Food Act allows individuals to make and sell a limited range of foods, including spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, flour, and baked goods, including candies, fruit empanadas, and tortillas.
Food safety training schedule for Colorado food producers
*NOTE: Due to pending legislative changes, our May, June, July, & August classes are on hold until we can revise our curriculum
| Location | Date | Registration link |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide/Online | January 23, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | January 28, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | January 29, 2026 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 17, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 21, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 25, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | February 27, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In Person – El Paso County | March 5, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In Person – Steamboat Springs | March 7, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 9, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 20, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | March 25, 2026 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In Person – El Paso County | April 2, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 10, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | April 14, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In Person – El Paso County | April 25, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 1, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| In Person – El Paso County | May 12, 2026 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | May 13, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 9, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | June 26, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 14, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | July 31, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 11, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | August 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | September 8, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | September 11, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | October 21, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | October 23, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 10, 2026 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
| Statewide/Online | November 13, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST | Register for Training |
Passion into Profits: Cottage Foods Business Training
Turn your homemade goods into a thriving business with CSU Extension’s Passion into Profits online training. This live, interactive Zoom class guides you through every step of starting and growing a successful cottage foods business, from understanding state regulations to effective marketing and sales strategies. Learn how to transform your culinary passion into a profitable venture, supported by CSU’s trusted expertise in small business development.
Upcoming classes
- February 3, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.
- April 21, 2026 | 11 a.m.
- June 25, 2026 | 11 a.m.
- August 13, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.
- October 22, 2026 | 11 a.m.
Food Safety Training for Colorado Cottage Food Producers
Offered by Colorado State University Extension, this nationally-recognized training program covers the specifics of the Colorado Cottage Food Act and how to safely operate a food business from a home kitchen. Length: 3.5 hours; 3-year certificate.
- For questions regarding Colorado Cottage Food Safety training, recertification, or products, contact cottagefoods@colostate.edu.
- For regulatory questions about the Colorado Cottage Food Act or to confirm a product can be sold under the Colorado Cottage Food Act, contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at cdphe_mfgfd@state.co.us.
Participants will learn:
- Basic food safety – including proper hygiene; preventing cross contamination and cross contact of food allergens; temperature control for safe food preparation, storage, transport and sales
- Foods permissible in Colorado’s Cottage Food Act
- Ingredient labeling and disclaimer requirements
- Special considerations for food preparation at altitude
- Resources for going further