Yukon farmers can sell products through farm gate sales, retail and to the Government of Yukon.
You can sell graded and ungraded eggs in the Yukon.
Graded eggs
Graded eggs are fit for retail sale. They must be inspected in a licensed egg-grading station.
You can sell graded eggs:
- in grocery stores;
- to commercial kitchens;
- to restaurants;
- online; and
- to the Government of Yukon.
Ungraded eggs
Ungraded refers to all other eggs. Producers can:
- sell these eggs directly to consumers; and
- advertise and sell them at a farmer's market as long as the eggs are clearly labelled as ungraded.
Ungraded eggs cannot be used in any commercial kitchen or retail outlets. Read the Sale and Use of Ungraded Eggs in Yukon brochure.
Farmers can sell inspected meat and uninspected (farm gate) meat.
Inspected meat
If you want to sell your meat in a retail setting, sell it to the government or advertise it for sale, it must:
- be slaughtered in a licensed abattoir; and
- processed or stored in an inspected facility.
Before slaughter, the livestock owner must do the following.
The meat inspector must be present during slaughter. They will place a stamp of approval on the carcass.
Meat used in commercial kitchens or restaurants must be inspected. This also includes meat sold at a farmer's market.
Yukon licensed inspection facilities
The following facilities are licensed for inspected red meat and poultry slaughter in the Yukon:
The Farm Gate
Status: operational
Location: Whitehorse
Contact: Cain Vangel
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 867-336-2697
Type of abattoir:
- On-site
- Commercial
- Poultry
- Red meat
Uninspected (farm gate) meat
Farm gate sale means the occasional sale of a live animal. The farmer and person buying the meat must agree to the sale before the animal is slaughtered. Otherwise, it's against the law to advertise and sell uninspected meat after slaughter.
Processed and frozen animals are not farm gate unless there is evidence of a purchase agreement before slaughter.
Read the Agricultural Products Act to find out about how meat sales are regulated in the Yukon.
There are no specific restrictions around selling locally grown produce. You don't need a permit to sell your fresh, uncut fruits and vegetables within the Yukon. This includes:
- root vegetables;
- greens such as kale, chard, spinach and lettuces;
- legumes such as peas; and
- cultivated fruit and berries.
You can sell uninspected produce at retail markets, farmer's markets, to caterers and the Government of Yukon.
You are responsible for the quality and safety of the produce you sell to consumers.
Tell the environmental health inspector that you are using or selling Yukon grown produce. Email [email protected] or phone 867-667-8391.
You don't have to wash produce before sale. If you do, you have to use potable water.
Find out more about food safety for fresh fruits and vegetables.
The regulations for selling processed products depend on the type of product you want to sell.
Jams, jellies and baked goods sold farm gate are low-risk products. They have less regulations and you can process these at home.
Higher risk products sold for retail need to be processed in an approved, permitted facility. These products include:
- meat;
- dairy; and
- fermented foods.
Find out where your product falls within the rules
- Email [email protected] or phone 867-667-8391 to speak to a health inspector.
- They will assess your unique situation and advise you on how to proceed.
Laws for selling processed or value-added products
- Agricultural Products Act and Regulations.
- Public Health and Safety Act and Regulations.
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (federal).
Labelling food products
Most pre-packaged food sold in Canada must have a label that includes the:
- product's common name;
- net quantity;
- identity of the agent (grower, responsible person); and
- principal place of business (address).
Many foods also require nutrition facts. Some require specific information such as grades. Find out more about food labelling requirements.