Small home farms in Florida are under threat as the state imposes new rules on how farmers can dress chickens for sale. The new poultry regulation threatens small farms by forcing them into costly upgrades or cutting them out of the local food market.
What the Regulation Changes
Currently, small farmers can dress chickens by plucking feathers and removing blood. But under the new rule, they must leave the head, feet, and internal organs intact — not how most consumers expect to see their poultry. Charles Swartz, a Century, Florida farmer, warns this method will turn consumers away: they simply won’t buy chickens looking like that. WEARNEWS
To continue selling chickens as they currently do, farmers must apply for a more advanced food processing permit. That permit demands commercial-grade equipment — like that used in large processing plants — which can cost over $100,000. Most small farms can’t afford that, making the new poultry regulation a threat to small farms financially and operationally.
Why This Hits Small Farms Hard
- Consumer expectations: Customers expect clean, ready-to-cook poultry, not working chickens.
- High cost of compliance: The equipment and facility upgrades required by the new permit are unrealistic for small operations.
- Market exclusion: Unable to comply, many small farms may be forced out of the local chicken market entirely.
Small growers like Swartz fear the rule will push them out of business. While the state claims it aims to protect food safety, farmers say the rule is unnecessary and crippling. The Department of Agriculture says it will clarify the rule with feedback, but the proposed changes still stand for now.
How Direct-to-Consumer Sales Can Help
Even if new rules limit small farms’ ability to sell dressed poultry, platforms like Farm Trader offer an alternative. When you sell directly to consumers, you:
- Control how your product is presented and sold
- Avoid relying on expensive wholesale or processing infrastructure
- Reach buyers who value local products and are willing to shop close to home
Listing products on Farm Trader helps fill the gap created by the new poultry regulations that threaten small farms. Consumers who want convenient, quality local meat can easily find and support your farm — no big processing plant needed.
