Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Good find. I will have to look and see what I was looking at. I do know there is a special label you have to attach to your birds listed them as exempt (I think it eludes to that in your picture) I seem to remember reading that even if you are exempt and don't have to be inspected, if somebody complains to the right people they have a right to inspect you and your processing setup. When I get some time later I will find the page I was reading

Yep, What you said is what I remember. I know we sold some birds last year, we had to put exempt and a bunch of numbers along with our names (Judy's Chicken Ranch)
safe handling instructions just to sell them from the farm.

It was interesting seeing what you can sell. it is more than I thought. BUT it appears the farmers market itself may limit items to limit their exposure to a suit.

 

[Coffee 1st]

If it is convenient I would like to join you for camp day if it falls at a time that I can get away. i.e., the first week in May I am gone for a week, family plans (which are not terribly often) So let me know if you will have me Ralphie and the date and I will get it onto my calendar.

And GOODMORNING Everyone.

I went to Ralphies camp day last year and will be doing it again this year. there is a ton of knowledge to be had. Not only will you be learning how to put a chicken nite nite,pluck and gut BUT he will also make sure you hold them and talk to them, if Ralphie had his way i think he would have us all snuggle and kiss them before the deed is done.. It was a hard days work but nice to have the feeling we are all helping each other, meeting new people,learning to be thankful for what is offered to us, What we can learn to do for ourselves and know we Can do what we need to when we have to..the feeling of self accomplishment is something that you will have forever..

 

[duluthralphie]

I got a little girl in the middle of being born!!





You are all correct, I need to get a life. All I want to do on hatching days is sit and watch the eggs!

 

[KlopKlop]

Ok, here is my 'cliff notes' version of rules selling your meat birds for anyone who is interested. I want to clear the air from everything I was tossing up earlier. Also, this in my interpretation, so be sure to read up on your own case if you want to really get into selling processed chickens direct to consumers. This info all comes from the state of MN and I will share links at the end.

1) you do not need any state or federal inspections if you sell less than 1000 birds direct to consumer and process them yourself

2) the only way to sell meat off of your farm is to have the chickens processed in an inspected facility or become an inspected facility
3) you can only sell to individuals. No stores or restaurants.
4) you can't sell your birds out of state.
5) all meat sold must be labeled with your name, address, and the special exemption code/ safe handling directions
6) you must keep track of all sales
7) no smoking or curing of meat allowed.
8) you must complete a free registration with the MN Department of Agriculture
9) local laws may be more strict and must be followed

This document from the MDA is where I interpret this from.
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/licensing/inspections/~/media/Files/food/foodsafety/poultrysales.ashx

 

[lvie]

I got a little girl in the middle of being born!!





You are all correct, I need to get a life. All I want to do on hatching days is sit and watch the eggs!

That pretty cool and what I would be doing if I were hatching chicks. That is why I am ready for chicks - so I can watch them in my basement in their brooder. Instead I have torn the basement apart and am putting it all back together differently or throwing it away - so I can bring in the brooder and get ready for some new chicks.

 

[lvie]

I went to Ralphies camp day last year and will be doing it again this year. there is a ton of knowledge to be had. Not only will you be learning how to put a chicken nite nite,pluck and gut BUT he will also make sure you hold them and talk to them, if Ralphie had his way i think he would have us all snuggle and kiss them before the deed is done.. It was a hard days work but nice to have the feeling we are all helping each other, meeting new people,learning to be thankful for what is offered to us, What we can learn to do for ourselves and know we Can do what we need to when we have to..the feeling of self accomplishment is something that you will have forever..

ummmm . . . . I am a little frightened about the killing yet I am willing to give it a try because it is the cycle of life. I will be a baby at first because it is my first experience. However, I don't think I will have nightmares about it. LOL. Cept I am really not laughing. Apprehensive - thats all.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ok, here is my 'cliff notes' version of rules selling your meat birds for anyone who is interested. I want to clear the air from everything I was tossing up earlier. Also, this in my interpretation, so be sure to read up on your own case if you want to really get into selling processed chickens direct to consumers. This info all comes from the state of MN and I will share links at the end.

1) you do not need any state or federal inspections if you sell less than 1000 birds direct to consumer and process them yourself

2) the only way to sell meat off of your farm is to have the chickens processed in an inspected facility or become an inspected facility
3) you can only sell to individuals. No stores or restaurants.
4) you can't sell your birds out of state.
5) all meat sold must be labeled with your name, address, and the special exemption code/ safe handling directions
6) you must keep track of all sales
7) no smoking or curing of meat allowed.
8) you must complete a free registration with the MN Department of Agriculture
9) local laws may be more strict and must be followed

This document from the MDA is where I interpret this from.
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/licensing/inspections/~/media/Files/food/foodsafety/poultrysales.ashx

www.mda.state.mn.us/.../media/Files/food/foodsafety/poultrysales.ashx


I am going to respectfully disagree Kloppers If you go to I believe it is page three you will see this?





I am thinking beings we were both in the same site. The state must consider a farmers market as being direct to the customer. Thi pretty plainly says you can sell your self cleaned non-inspected birds at the farmers market...

Who would ever think our government would publish contradictory rules?

 

[duluthralphie]

Now I am not as sure. I tried to wade through the statutes themselves, BUT they are a tad confusing and contradictory too... Hmmm



Here is what I figured out, You need walls, a ceiling and floors, So my outdoor processing is out.

You need a fridge and water.

And keep it clean when being used and after being used.





Time to build a new building for chicken cleaning...

 

[KlopKlop]

[COLOR=009030]www.mda.state.mn.us/.../media/Files/food/foodsafety/poultrysales.ashx[/COLOR] I am going to respectfully disagree Kloppers If you go to I believe it is page three you will see this? I am thinking beings we were both in the same site. The state must consider a farmers market as being direct to the customer. Thi pretty plainly says you can sell your self cleaned non-inspected birds at the farmers market... Who would ever think our government would publish contradictory rules?

That looks identical to what I was reading from the MDA. I did not read the link to see what the requirements were but that is the line I was quoting when I said 'become an inspected facility' I did not catch the word 'may be inspected' vs 'will be' when I read it so maybe they wouldn't bother if you were small fish? I will have to read the link. This is why I hate reading laws and legislations. Usually vague and can be interpreted in different ways, but it is really a judge's interpretation that counts. Like the line that reads the birds must be processed 'under sanitary conditions' what do you consider sanitary? Each person is going to have an opinion about that.

 

[duluthralphie]

That looks identical to what I was reading from the MDA. I did not read the link to see what the requirements were but that is the line I was quoting when I said 'become an inspected facility'
I did not catch the word 'may be inspected' vs 'will be' when I read it so maybe they wouldn't bother if you were small fish? I will have to read the link.

This is why I hate reading laws and legislations. Usually vague and can be interpreted in different ways, but it is really a judge's interpretation that counts. Like the line that reads the birds must be processed 'under sanitary conditions' what do you consider sanitary? Each person is going to have an opinion about that.

I went and read the law, it was all pretty basic. The only tricky thing is impervious walls ceilings and floor. Are they talking stainless steel or are they talking Cement blocks?

I am guessing cement blocks would pass as they do in a milk room, but all equipment must be stainless. I did not see that in the laws.

I am guessing it would be a low bar. But who knows. I saw a fridge was required. it did not say a commercial stainless one. BUT they could have hidden little rules somewhere else too. It has been known to happen.