Toscano Bill On Pickle Sales Sours

By The Daily Progress Staff

RICHMOND — A House of Delegates subcommittee may have scuttled a measure sponsored by Del. David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, to allow the sale of pickles, relish and salsa prepared in private home kitchens not open to state food safety inspectors.

The bill, HB 60, aims to legitimize the sale of these homemade foods, which a longtime market vendor has said have long been available under the table at farmer’s markets.

Under Toscano’s legislation, pickles, relish and salsa made in private kitchens would be legal to sell at a farmers market or out of a home, so long as the food items featured a label stating: “NOT FOR RESALE — PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION.”

Toscano’s measure came before the agriculture subcommittee of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, but no member moved to take action on the bill. As a result, the bill is effectively stalled, at least for now. There is a possibility, however, that the full committee — which meets this morning — will still take up the measure.