Converting Historic Barns into Food Establishments or Retail Food Stores

[EditorBob]

Converting Historic Barns into Food Establishments or Retail Food Stores

By Joyce J. Welch, Administrator, NH Division of Public Health Services, Food Protection Section
And John C. Porter, UNH Extension Professor, Emeritus

The New Hampshire Historic Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee (“Barn Committee”) has been working since its establishment in 1999 to preserve old barns in New Hampshire. These old structures tell the story of the state’s agricultural past and are part of the “constructed landscape” which creates the scenery and character of rural New Hampshire. Unfortunately a lot of these old barns are no longer used for their original intent of housing animals and crops and have lost their economic value. This makes it difficult for the owners to afford the maintenance required to keep barns structurally sound.

One thing the Barn Committee has done is to promote creative uses of old barns so they do contribute economically and become a viable component of the farmstead. Old barns can make very picturesque farm-stands that attract customers or used for food establishments or retail food stores. There is a desire to balance the preservation of original structural features with sanitary requirements to ensure a safe food product for the consumer. Below is some practical advice from the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services.

The most important advice that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health Services Food Protection Section can give anyone who is considering converting a barn to a food establishment or retail food store in our jurisdiction* is to contact us early on in the planning stages. One of our inspectors is available in our Concord office on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week to discuss possible plans. Once the plan becomes more concrete, a hard copy plan must be submitted for review following He-P2302.17 in He-P 2300, the NH Rules for the Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food. The plan must be submitted at least 45 days prior to construction or remodeling. The plan should be submitted at the same time as the food service license application.

Once the Food Protection plan reviewer approves the plan, a letter is sent out either approving the plan as it exists or with changes that must be made to comply with He-P 2300. A copy of the review will also be given to the inspector who covers the district where the barn is located. At this time, the person doing the construction is encouraged to contact that inspector for further guidance. Once all work is completed, the inspector will conduct an inspection and issue a provisional license which is good for 90 days. An inspection sometime around the 45-day mark will be conducted to witness the establishment in operation, and if everything is satisfactory, an annual license will be issued.

We’re here to help. Contact Food Protection at 603-271-4589 or at foodprotection@dhhs.state.nh.us.
He-P 2300 can be accessed at: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/he-p2300.html.

*There are 16 self-inspecting jurisdictions in New Hampshire. If your barn is located in one of these, you must contact them directly for guidance instead of the NH Division of Public Health Services. A list of these jurisdictions can be found at: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/FOODSANITATION.