.
Feedback

Silver Lake Resident Inspires Cottage Food Bill on Governor's Desk

The Homemade Food Act would allow folks like Silver Lake resident Mark Stambler to sell certain locally produced foods in their communities.

 

"Write the Governor a letter," says Mark Stambler, whose experience trying to sell home-baked bread in two stores inspired AB1616.

AB1616, the Homemade Food Act, is now on the Governor's desk after approval in both the California Senate and Assembly Thursday.

The bill would permit breads, tortillas, cookies, preserves, nuts and other small-batch items produced in the home to be sold directly to consumers and in stores.

Certain public health protections would have to be met first, however.

Silver Lake resident Stambler became a poster child for micro-entrepreneurs trying to market their own products. 

The health department refused to allow him to sell home-baked bread in two local stores.

Assemblymember Mike Gatto, who lives in Silver Lake and represents Montrose and La Crescenta, took up his case and sponsored AB1616, also known as The Homemade Food Act.

Watch video in the above gallery for more back story on the bill.

Governor Jerry Brown has until the end of the month to sign the bill. 

Cities and counties around the state have gone on the record opposing the bill, fearing the risks they say it may create for them.

Supporters, like Stambler, say the Governor's signature is not certain, and urge anyone interested to write a letter in support of the bill and send it to Sacramento.

“Creating a legal structure for the safe, in-home production of certain foods that respects the importance of public health is a sensible approach that will spark more economic activity in our local economies and in California,” said Assembly member Gatto in a statement.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Montrose-La Crescenta Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
"Your Neighborhood Spa, Since 1996"
Janelle Palmer Williams May 17, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Uptown Face and Body Care...doing it right since 1996. I love this place! Congratulations on yourRead More continued success, and thank you for your little oasis in Montrose, where I enter feeling knotty and stressed out and leave wondering what my problem was! Much love!
Trissie Badger May 21, 2013 at 09:59 am
I feel bad that teachers are having to pull money out of their own pockets, I wonder whateverRead More happened to the lottery money that was supposed to go to schools? I am a volunteer for an organization that offers free drug education kits to any teacher with booklets on the various harmful drugs . Educators play a vital role for our children and in society and should be supported in any way possible. Any who might be interested, e-mail me at tbadger2000@yahoo.com.

BUBBLE OF LOVE

Announcements  

0   Recommend Paul