Rhode Island
Plain words from the rules on file. Last reviewed Not reviewed yet. Topics checked: 4. 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: no_law. A new herd-share listing is blocked. A raw milk sale is allowed, with the limits below.
Sales of fluid raw milk and raw milk products (with the exception of licensed raw milk cheese) are generally illegal, except that a person may purchase raw goat milk pursuant to a physician’s prescription.
Statute: RI Regs. See 2001 Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; RI Gen. Laws: Title 21, Ch. 2: §21-2-2, et seq.
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
Source: https://www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Defining-and-Regulating-Agritourism.pdf www.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024
Cottage food
$50,000 cap
Source: https://ij.org/report/baking-bad-legal-barriers-for-starting-a-business-selling-homemade-food/ ij.org/report/baking-bad-legal-barriers-fo
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.