6 Months In Jail For Selling … Cookies?

A ruling from a judge may be needed to sell homemade baked goods in Wisconsin.

Three home bakers in the state are challenging a state law that can punish people who sell homemade cookies, brownies and other treats with up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Lafayette County Judge Duane Jorgensen will rule on May 31 if Wisconsin’s ban on the sale of homemade baked goods is unconstitutional, the Associated Press reported. The challenge to the home-baking ban was brought by the Institute for Justice.

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The Institute filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on behalf of Lisa Kivirist, Kriss Marion and Dela Ends. The three women try to augment their family incomes by selling baked goods.

“So I lost that income stream, which was modest but helpful,” Ends said. “It’s really hard to make it on a farm. In Wisconsin, these have been hard times, and ways that people can make a little extra money is important.”

Ends used to make extra cash with her homemade cinnamon rolls until she found she might face fines or jail time. Her alternative would be to spend tens of thousands of dollars to open a commercial bakery.

Ironically, Ends is allowed to sell a wide variety of other homemade food, including jams and pickles — but not baked goods. Wisconsin is one of the two states that ban the sale of homemade baked goods. The other is New Jersey.

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