How To Make Money Selling Canned Goods

Disclaimer:

Before you start selling homemade canned goods, check with your local health authority to ensure you comply with all food safety regulations. In Ontario, home-based food businesses must follow guidelines set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and their local public health unit. Regulations vary by province, state, and country, and certain canned goods—especially low-acid foods like vegetables, meats, and soups—may require a commercial kitchen or additional licensing.

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or food safety advice. Always verify your local laws and health regulations before selling homemade food products.

I never thought I’d become “the guy with the pickles,” but here we are. What started as an innocent hobby—just me, some Mason jars, and a vague desire to not let my cucumbers go to waste—somehow turned into a small business. Suddenly, people were handing me cash in exchange for jars of pickled things, and I had to pretend I knew what I was doing.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a kitchen full of jam, wondering if you really need 37 jars of strawberry-rhubarb, you might be sitting on a goldmine. Selling homemade canned goods isn’t just a great way to use up extra produce—it’s also a surprisingly good side hustle. So, if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, maybe I could make money off this,” let me show you how.

Step 1: Figure Out If It’s Legal (So You Don’t Accidentally Start a Black Market Pickle Ring)

Before you start slinging jars like a homesteading kingpin, you need to check your local food laws. I know, yawn, but trust me—nothing kills a business faster than an angry health inspector.

The Quick & Dirty on Cottage Food Laws

Some places are pretty chill and let you sell things like jams, jellies, and pickles without much hassle. Others require you to have a full-blown commercial kitchen, complete with hairnets, stainless steel everything, and probably someone named Janet from the health department breathing down your neck.

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sets the rules. Some provinces (Here is a bit from Ontario) let you sell at farmers’ markets without much trouble, while others will make you jump through flaming hoops.

In the U.S., every state has its own version of cottage food laws. Some let you sell from home, some only allow farmers’ markets, and some won’t let you sell anything that requires a pressure canner (goodbye, canned moose stew empire).

To avoid unknowingly becoming a pickle outlaw, check your local rules before you start selling.

Step 2: Choose the Best Canned Goods to Sell

Not all canned goods are created equal. Some sell like hotcakes (hot jars?), while others just sit there gathering dust.

What Sells Well:

✔ Jams & Jellies – People love them, and they’re technically just fruit and sugar, so they’re easy to make legally.

✔ Pickles & Relishes – Dill pickles, pickled carrots, and beets are top sellers. Anything that makes a hotdog taste better is a win.

✔ Fruit Syrups – Raspberry syrup, elderberry syrup, or anything you can drizzle over pancakes will have people throwing money at you.

✔ Foraged Goods – If you can turn wild berries, fireweed, or birch sap into something delicious, you’ve got a niche market.

What Probably Won’t Sell (Or Will Get You in Trouble):

❌ Pressure-canned veggies & meats – Unless you have a licensed commercial kitchen, most places won’t let you sell home-canned low-acid foods.

❌ Dairy-based canned goods – Canning milk or cream-based soups? That’s a no from the health department.

❌ Anything with a sketchy-looking lid – No one wants to play botulism roulette.

Step 3: Price Your Jars Without Undervaluing Yourself

If you’re like me, your first instinct is to underprice your stuff because “Who would pay $10 for a jar of jam?” But then you realize that fancy grocery store jam costs just as much, and it wasn’t even made by a guy who spent hours picking wild berries while swatting mosquitoes.

How to Price Your Jars Without Losing Your Shirt

Ingredients – If you’re using store-bought sugar, vinegar, and spices, factor that in. If you foraged your fruit, give yourself extra credit for braving the mosquitoes.

Jars & Lids – These aren’t free, and neither is your time.

Your Actual Labor – Just because you like canning doesn’t mean you should do it for free.

Pro tip: Fancy stores sell artisanal jam for $10–$15 per jar. If your wild blueberry jam is better (which it obviously is), don’t sell yourself short.

Step 4: Where to Sell Your Canned Goods Without Looking Suspicious

Farmers’ Markets

This is where you find people who expect to pay $10 for a jar of something homemade. Set up a rustic-looking table, hand out samples, and prepare to watch old ladies fight over the last jar of strawberry-rhubarb.

Online Sales (If Your Laws Allow It)

Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and your own website can be goldmines—if your local laws allow it. Some places won’t let you mail food, though, so don’t get too excited about becoming the next Amazon of jam.

Local Stores & Co-ops

Small shops love carrying locally made products. Walk in with a few samples (because bribery works), and they might agree to stock your jars.

Holiday Markets & Craft Fairs

People will buy anything in December if you slap a ribbon on it and call it a “gift basket.”

Step 5: Make Your Jars Look So Good That People Buy Them Just for the Aesthetic

Your jam could be the best thing since sliced bread, but if your label looks like a child scribbled on it, good luck.

How to Make Your Jars Look Fancy (Without Spending a Fortune)

✔ Use nice labels – Print them, or at least make sure your handwriting is legible.

✔ Add a rustic touch – A little burlap and twine can make a jar look Instagram-worthy.

✔ Tell a story – “Hand-foraged wild raspberry jam from Northwestern Ontario” sounds a lot fancier than “I made this in my kitchen.”

Step 6: Actually Sell the Stuff (and Get People to Come Back for More)

The best way to keep customers coming back is to make really good canned goods. But a few extra tricks help, too:

Offer Samples – Once people taste it, they’re hooked.

Bundle Deals – “Buy 3, get 1 free” makes people buy more.

Social Media Hype – Post canning videos, show off new flavors, and remind people that pickles make great gifts.

Can You Really Make Money Selling Canned Goods?

Yes! With the right products, smart pricing, and a little marketing, selling homemade canned goods can be a great side hustle—or even a full-time business.

Just don’t forget to check your local food laws so you don’t accidentally end up in a pickle (pun absolutely intended).

If you’ve ever thought about selling your homemade canned goods, what would you sell? Let me know in the comments—I promise I won’t steal your idea (unless it’s really good).