Attend Cottage Food Workshop
If you’re a “Good Cook” and would like to be a part of the Mesquite Farmers’ Market on Friday nights, a workshop is scheduled to inform you on the guidelines you’ll need to follow to sell your goods at the Market or anywhere else in Nevada.
A Cottage Food Information Workshop, hosted by Carol Bishop, Extension Educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension N.E. Clark County, will be held Monday, June 6 at 1 p.m. at the home of Larry and BJ Pederson, 678 E. Old Mill Road in Mesquite. Call 801-209-2418 for more information and to reserve a seat.
“The Cottage Food Industry legislation has opened the doors to the general public being able to produce and market a number of food items to the general public without all the regulation that much of the food industry has to deal with,” said Bishop. “The types of foods are limited to those that are safe to produce, store and eat without refrigeration.
“However, there are some general rules that need to be followed,” she added. “We will cover all those rules and regulations to help you on your way to being able to produce products at home in your own kitchen for sale anywhere in Nevada.”
Chris Reif, from Frias Property Management, who is heading up the Mesquite Farmer’s Market program, said he is excited to have Mesquite and surrounding area residents bring their food wares to the market every week. “This is a great way for fund-raising groups and just ordinary cooks and bakers to make some money and have some fun,” said Reif. “We invite everyone to join our Friday Night Market. And, I encourage interested cooks to attend the workshop,” he added. “It will make the whole process a lot easier.”
Foods covered by the Cottage Food Industry regulations include jams, jellies and preserves; nuts and nut mixes; candies; vinegars and flavored vinegars; dried herbs and seasonings; dried fruits; cereal trail mixes and granola; popcorn and popcorn balls and baked goods that do not contain fresh cream, eggs, cheese or merengue that is not an ingredient of the cooked product.
The Mesquite Friday Night Farmers Market will be held Friday from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Mesquite Plaza Shopping Center, formerly Bulldog Plaza. There will also be fresh local fruits and vegetable and handmade crafts. Interested vendors may call Chris Reif at 702-378-1112.
