Lawmakers asked to exempt farm-to-table events from food regulations

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 | 3:58 p.m.

CARSON CITY - A family-owned farm in Overton is battling with the Southern Nevada Health District over regulations used in October to shut down a farm-to-table event at the farm.

The fight continued today at the Legislative Committee on Health Care.

Laura Bledsoe and her husband, who own the eight-acre Quail Hollow Farm, ran afoul of the health district over meat they were preparing to serve at their "Farm to Fork Dinner." Regulators, who had seen the event advertised, ultimately ended up pouring bleach on the food to ensure it would not be consumed. Regulators concerns: prepared food packages without labels; meat that was not USDA certified; food that was not at the proper temperature and no receipts for food.

Bledsoe told the committee that health district officials also told her she "could not feed (the food) to our pigs."

Glenn Savage, environment heath director for the district, said there were no issues with the fresh vegetables being prepared. "The meat was the hitch," he said. Savage hastened to add that their concerns do not apply to farmers' markets in Clark County.

The reaction from lawmakers was mixed.

Henderson Assemblywoman April Mastroluca, chairwoman of the committee, said "If I'm paying for food, I expect it to be safe."

Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas, suggested that a note could alert consumers that meat hasn't been approved by federal or state officials.

Bledsoe urged the committee to "allow us to make our own food choices for ourselves." She said the law should exempt the small rancher and allow them to hold farm-to-table events.

Savage said he met with the Bledsoes and expressed confidence they could find a solution. If the solution is a new law, it must wait until the 2013 Legislature convenes.