PAINTSVILLE — Those who wish to legally sell items such as pickles, salsa or barbecue sauce can take the first step toward accomplishing that, during a workshop to be held March 20.

The Johnson County Extension Office is hosting a home-based microprocessor workshop, which is required in order to sell certain moderate-risk homemade foods. In addition to attending the workshop, producers must also apply to and have their recipes approved by the Kentucky Food Safety Branch.

Foods that home-based microprocessors can sell include:

• Canned tomatoes and tomato products

• Pickled fruits and vegetables

• Salsa

• Barbecue sauce

• Pepper or herb jellies

• Pressure-canned vegetables

• Low-sugar and sugar-free jams and jellies

In order to qualify for a license, producers must live and farm in Kentucky, and their products must contain a fruit, vegetable, nut or herb grown by the farmer and must be sold at their farms, registered farmers markets or certified roadside stands.

The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, at the Johnson County Extension Office. The cost of the workshop is $50.

For more information about the workshop or to register, visit www.ca.uky.edu/agc/micro on the internet, or contact Debbie Clouthier at (859) 257-1812 or debbie.clouthier@uky.edu.

Home-based microprocessors differ from home-based processors, who are allowed to sell certain low-risk foods without paying a fee or attending a workshop. Home-based processors must still register annually with the state.

Foods that home-based processors can sell include:

• Fruit jams, jellies, butters and syrups

• Dried fruits, vegetables, nuts and herbs

• Baked goods containing a fruit, vegetable, nut or herb grown by the processor

• Cut fruits and vegetables

• Prepackaged mixed greens