When I saw the title of Rep. Blanton’s HB 1309 as being concerned with “home based processors and micro-processors,” I thought it was going to have something to do with home computers. Not so much. It actually has to do with the ability of farmers to prepare and sell certain food products without having to comply with various labeling and inspection regulations.

In the legislation, “food products” means whole fruit and vegetables, mixed greens, jams, jellies, sweet sorghum syrup, preserves, fruit butter, bread, fruit pies, cakes, or cookies. “Home based microprocessor” means a farmer who produces or processes in the farmer’s home: acid foods; formulated acid food products; acidified food products; or low acid canned foods; and has a net income of not more than thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) annually from the sale of the produced and processed food products. “Home based processor” means a farmer who produces or processes food products in the farmer’s home.