Massachusetts
Plain words from the rules on file. Last reviewed Not reviewed yet. Topics checked: 3. This is not legal advice.
Meat shares
No state MPI program (USDA FSIS inspects)
Federal custom exemption (9 CFR 303.1) applies; buy live-animal share before slaughter; meat Not for Sale; state specifics unverified
This is a share of a live animal, bought before slaughter and processed by a custom-exempt plant. Meat is marked Not for Sale and may not be resold or donated.
State-inspected meat may only be sold within this state unless the plant is federally inspected or in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program.
Source: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/apply-grant-inspection/state-inspection-programs/states-and-without-inspection-programs www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/apply-grant-i
Raw milk and herd shares
The rules on file mark on-farm or direct raw milk sales as allowed, with the limits in the summary.
Herd shares on file: prohibited. A new herd-share listing is blocked. A raw milk sale is allowed, with the limits below.
Grade A raw milk is allowed to be sold for retail, which is regulated by the state and needs to comply with numerous provisions. “Retail” means farm-to-consumer, on farm sales only. There is policy interpretation 2010-1 which interprets herd shares or cow shares to be sales of milk and therefore the
Statute: Gen. Laws of MA: Pt. 1, Title XV, Ch. 94: G.L. c 94, §12, §13, §16J, §40; Code of MA Regs: 330 CMR 27.00; 330 CMR 27.07 Sanitation requirements for Grade “A” Raw milk
Source: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/raw-milk-nation-interactive-map/ www.farmtoconsumer.org/raw-milk-nation-int
Farm visits
No agritourism liability statute is on file for this state. You assume the risks of a working farm, including land, equipment, and animals. The farm is responsible for its own insurance.
On file: No agritourism liability statute - No general agritourism law; narrower pick-your-own/harvest protection
Source: https://www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Defining-and-Regulating-Agritourism.pdf www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024
Cottage food
unverified
CSA
unverified (no state CSA-specific rule found; federal SNAP 14-day rule applies)
A SNAP note is shown on a CSA only when that farm says it is SNAP-authorized. This market does not take SNAP online.
Rules vary by state; farms are responsible for following their state and local laws.