North Carolina Directs Agriculture Department to Expand Home Processor Program for Refrigerated and Frozen Foods

Original title: The FRESH Act.

Last action · April 16, 2025: Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Added (House action)Sponsors: Lowery and 7 others

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What This Bill Would Do

North Carolina House Bill 833 directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to expand its to allow participants to produce and sell refrigerated or frozen food products, as well as bakery items with cream or cream cheese fillings such as cheesecakes.

Why it matters

Home-based food producers gain authorization to sell perishable and frozen goods previously excluded from the home processor framework, subject to existing food safety laws and inspections.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Home Processor Program participants

Home food producers gain authorization to produce and sell refrigerated, frozen, and cream-filled bakery products while remaining subject to food safety inspections.

Directly affected

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The Department is tasked with expanding the program rules, adopting temporary rules, and maintaining food safety oversight and inspections.

Key Facts

The act is officially cited as the Food Refrigeration Expansion for Safe Home-processing (FRESH) Act.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must expand the Home Processor Program to authorize production and sale of refrigerated or frozen food products.
The expanded program covers bakery products with cream or cream cheese fillings, including cheesecakes.
The Department is authorized to adopt temporary rules to implement the expansion.

Show all 7 facts

Temporary rules remain in effect until permanent rules replace them.
Expanded program participants remain subject to applicable food safety laws and inspections under Article 12 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes.
The act becomes effective when it becomes law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new types of food can home processors sell under this bill?

Participants can sell refrigerated or frozen food products, along with bakery items containing cream or cream cheese fillings, such as cheesecakes.

Will home processors still be subject to food safety inspections?

Yes, the expanded remains subject to applicable food safety laws and inspections under Article 12 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes.

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Where This Stands

Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.

Procedural history

7 actions

Apr 16, 2025House
Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Added
Apr 16, 2025House
Serial Referral To Health Added
Apr 16, 2025House
Serial Referral To Commerce and Economic Development Added
Apr 16, 2025House
Serial Referral To Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Stricken
Apr 10, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Agriculture and Environment, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Apr 10, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading

Show 1 earlier action

Apr 8, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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