97.28 Direct sale of eggs.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Candling" means carefully examining, in a dark place, the interior and exterior of a whole egg that is placed in front of a strong light source.

(b) “Egg" means the shell egg of the domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, and of turkey, duck, goose, guinea, or other avian species whose eggs are used for human consumption.

(c) “Egg producer" means a person who sells eggs laid only by a bird or a flock of birds owned by that person.

(d) “Egg sales route" means one or more residences inhabited by consumers who regularly buy eggs from an egg producer who travels to the residences.

(e) “Farmer's market" means a building, structure, or place where 2 or more individuals gather on a regular, recurring basis to sell, directly to the consumer, any of the following:

1. Raw agricultural commodities that are grown, harvested, or collected by the individual.

2. Food that is prepared by the individual.

(f) “Nest-run egg" means an egg that is not washed, graded, or subject to candling before sale.

(2) An egg producer who satisfies all of the following need not obtain a license under s. 97.29 to sell eggs, including nest-run eggs:

(a) The number of egg-laying birds in the egg producer's flock does not exceed 150.

(b) The egg producer sells the eggs directly to a consumer through one of the following venues:

1. At the premises where the eggs were laid.

2. At a farmers' market located in this state.

3. On an egg sales route.

(c) The egg producer packages the eggs in a carton that is labeled only with the following information:

1. The egg producer's name and address.

2. The date on which the egg producer packed the eggs into the carton.

3. A date that falls no more than 30 days after the date on which the eggs were packed by which the eggs must be sold.

4. A statement indicating that the eggs in the package are ungraded and uninspected.

(d) The egg producer keeps the eggs, packaged as provided under par. (c) and held, as packaged, for sale at a venue identified under par. (b), at an ambient temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below at all times.

History: 2013 a. 245.