Hi Guys,

My head is going to explode here. I've been sent around in circles from every state agency i'm supposed to call and getting ever more confusing answers and additional paperwork...I dont know if i'm not explaining myself to them correctly or what, but I really need some help from those of you who are legal in NY. I've spoken to my town and city and have what I need from them. But the health department is really confusing me.

Here's the deal, for my own reasons I decided that instead of having my own kitchen inspected I would find myself an already certified kitchen. I found one pretty quickly thankfully but now i'm trying to understand what it is I need to operate like this. At this point I want to sell my cupcakes at fairs, festivals, green markets, etc. So the health department sent me a ton of papers that i'm supposed to fill out about a "Temporary Food Service Establishment" Looking through the paperwork, I can't actually answer any of these questions because they don't appear to apply to my situation!

Has anyone from NY ever run into this or know if this is even at all necessary? I'm not in NYC, i'm upstate NY.

Thank you all!

I hear you on the health department red tape I'm not in NY, but i have found that i am best not licensed as a caterer or a restaurant, but as a Limited Food Manufacturer. Maybe check into the NY rules and see if something like that applies?

good luck

Not in your state, but I found it very helpful to get the applications from the HD and Dept of Ag. Read and study them along with the web sites of the coordinating codes. If my state has this, all others should. Study them until you know the answers. Then verify the answers with the HD. My states were very helpful, but getting the whole picture from all perspectives really does help with the confusion.

As a more creative minded person, business forms usually get my eyes and disposition instantly crossed - but I will tell you, when I was getting my shop up, I discovered blatant honesty is key with these offices. Tell them just that, "here's what I want to do, I want to do it correctly, tell me what goes here, here, and here" ....etc. It's their job to help you understand.

agree with brevity. They will be more than happy to help you fill them out. It actually makes their job easier when it's done right the first time, so they have even more of a vested interest in giving you a hand with them.

I live in NY.

In this case, she has gotten the wrong forms. I can't help her further though until I find out which county she lives in. It is a different process for almost all of them. But for what she stated, it is the department of Agriculture she wants.