For California Ag Today, I’m Mike Stephens<p><p>Proving the Legislative Process Works <p><p>In February, Monterey County Farm Bureau s Administrative Assistant Susanne McBride offered a legislative suggestion to improve to the cottage food section of our public policy, and Assembly member Robert Rivas was kind enough to write and carry the bill through the process.<p><p>Governor Newsom has signed AB 1144, the Cottage Foods Bill, into California Law. Congratulations to Susanne on her suggestion that will benefit small food producers across our state, and thanks to Assembly member Rivas for his support during the legislative session of her suggestion. <p><p>The Summary of the bill is:<p>Cottage food operations are small businesses in which people make and sell homemade foods to help supplement their income (or, in some cases, receive their primary source of income). These operations are especially important in rural communities,