Sell Homemade Food in New Mexico — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in New Mexico — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.
No revenue cap
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
very business-friendly
Regulation Level
New Mexico is considered very business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in New Mexico is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
New Mexico Environment Department, Food Program explains everything you need to know about the New Mexico Homemade Food Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 25-2C-1 et seq.).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
New Mexico requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what New Mexico requires below.
Open your online store with RestauNax
Take orders, accept payments, manage shipping, and message customers — all from one dashboard for $4.99/month.
Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in New Mexico
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
dried herbs
roasted chile
tortillas
popcorn
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned low-acid foods
Rules can change — quickly check with New Mexico Environment Department, Food Program before you start, just to be safe.
New Mexico Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in New Mexico under the New Mexico Homemade Food Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 25-2C-1 et seq.)
No Permit Needed
New Mexico does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
New Mexico allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what New Mexico wants on it — copy this list.
Product name
Ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight
Major allergens declared
Net weight or volume
Producer name and address
Statement: 'This product is homemade and is not subject to state inspection'
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
New Mexico requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From New Mexico
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from New Mexico. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
dried herbs
roasted chile
tortillas
popcorn
Ship within New Mexico only
New Mexico homemade food producers can sell direct to consumers within the state, including online and via mail order, but all transactions must be to consumers in New Mexico.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in New Mexico
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in New Mexico
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in New Mexico
Farmers Markets
Allowed in New Mexico
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under New Mexico cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in New Mexico
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Home Food Business Types in New Mexico
Start any of these home food businesses under the New Mexico Homemade Food Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 25-2C-1 et seq.)
Start Your New Mexico Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the New Mexico Homemade Food Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 25-2C-1 et seq.) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond New Mexico? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.