Health department raids community picnic and destroys all food with bleach

A Distinctive World ^

[Sopater]

We were told our food was unfit for consumption and demanded that we call off the event...

Quail Farm

The evening was everything I had dreamed and hoped it would be. The weather was perfect, the farm was filled with friends and guests roaming around talking about organic, sustainable farming practices. Our guests were excited to spend an evening together. The food was prepared exquisitely. The long dinner table, under the direction of dear friends, was absolutely stunningly beautiful. The music was superb. The stars were bright and life was really good. And then, …for a few moments, it felt like the rug was pulled out from underneath us and my wonderful world came crashing down. As guests were mingling, finishing tours of the farm, and while the first course of the meal was being prepared and ready to be sent out, a Southern Nevada Health District employee came for an inspection.

Community Dinner at Quail Farm

Because this was a gathering of people invited to our farm for dinner, I had no idea that the Health Department would become involved. I received a phone call from them two days before the event informing me that because this was a “public event” (I would like to know what is the definition of “public” and “private”) we would be required to apply for a “special use permit.” If we did not do so immediately, we would be charged a ridiculous fine. Stunned, we immediately complied.
We were in the middle of our harvest day for our CSA shares, a very busy time for us, but Monte immediately left to comply with the demand and filled out the required paper work and paid for the fee. (Did I mention that we live in Overton, nowhere near a Health Department office?) Paper work now in order, he was informed that we would not actually be given the permit until an inspector came to check it all out. She came literally while our guests were arriving! In order to overcome any trouble with the Health Department of cooking on the premises, most of the food was prepared in a certified kitchen in Las Vegas; and to further remove any doubt, we rented a certified kitchen trailer to be here on the farm for the preparation of the meals.

The inspector, Mary Oaks, clearly not the one in charge of the inspection as she was constantly on the phone with her superior Susan somebody who was calling all the shots from who knows where.

We were told our food was unfit for consumption and demanded that we call off the event because:

EH Specialist II Mary Oakes

1. Some of the prepared food packages did not have labels on them. (The code actually allows for this if it is to be consumed within 72 hours.)
2. Some of the meat was not USDA certified. (Did I mention that this was a farm to fork meal?)
3. Some of the food that was prepared in advance was not up to temperature at the time of inspection. (It was being prepared to be brought to proper temperature for serving when the inspection occurred.)
4. Even the vegetables prepared in advance had to be thrown out because they were cut and were then considered a “bio-hazard”.
5. We did not have receipts for our food. (Reminder! This food came from farms not from the supermarket! I have talked with several chefs who have said that in all their years cooking they have never been asked for receipts.)

At this time Monte, trying to reason with Susan to find a possible solution for the problem, suggested turning this event from a “public” event to a “private” event by allowing the guests to become part of our farm club, thus eliminating any jurisdiction or responsibility on their part. This idea infuriated Susan and threatened that if we did not comply the police would be called and personally escort our guests off the property. This is not the vision of the evening we had in mind! So regretfully, again we complied.

The only way to keep our guests on the property was to destroy the food

Bleach is poured on organic food

I can’t tell you how sick to my stomach I was watching that first dish of Mint Lamb Meatballs hit the bottom of the unsanitized trash can. Here we were with guests who had paid in advance and had come from long distances away anticipating a wonderful dining experience, waiting for dinner while we were behind the kitchen curtain throwing it away! I know of the hours and labor that went into the preparation of that food. We asked the inspector if we could save the food for a private family event that we were having the next day. (A personal family choice to use our own food.) We were denied and she was insulted that we would even consider endangering our families health. I assured her that I had complete faith and trust in Giovanni our chef and the food that was prepared, (obviously, or I wouldn’t be wanting to serve it to our guests).

Farm food is destroyed

I then asked if we couldn’t feed the food to our “public guests” or even to our private family, then at least let us feed it to our pigs. (I think it should be a criminal action to waste any resource of the land. Being dedicated to our organic farm, we are forever looking for good inputs into our compost and soil and good food that can be fed to our animals. The animals and compost pile always get our left over garden surplus and food. We truly are trying to be as sustainable as possible.) Again, a call to Susan and another negative response. Okay, so let me get this right. So the food that was raised here on our farm and selected and gathered from familiar local sources, cooked and prepared with skill and love was even unfit to feed to my pigs!?! Who gave them the right to tell me what I feed my animals? Not only were we denied the use of the food for any purpose, to ensure that it truly was unfit for feed of any kind we were again threatened with police action if we did not only throw the food in the trash, but then to add insult to injury, we were ordered to pour bleach on it.

Food Lined up to Be Destroyed by Health Department

Now the food is also unfit for compost as I would be negligent to allow any little critters to nibble on it while it was composting and ingest that bleach resulting in a horrible death. Literally hundreds of pounds of food was good for nothing but adding to our ever increasing land fill! At some point in all of this turmoil Monte reminded me that I had the emergency phone number for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) on our refrigerator. I put it there never really believing that I would ever have to use it. We became members of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund several years ago as a protection for us, but mostly to add support to other farmers battling against the oppressive legal actions taken against the small farmers trying to produce good wholesome food without government intrusion. The local, sustainable food battle is being waged all across America! May I mention that not one battle has been brought on because of any illness to the patrons of these farms! The battles are started by government officials swooping down on farms and farmers like SWAT teams confiscating not only the wholesome food items produced but even their farm equipment! Some of them actually wearing HAZMAT suits as if they were walking into a nuclear meltdown! I have personally listened to some of their heart wrenching stories and have continued to follow them through the FTCLDF’s updates.

Please Help By Signing the Petition!

[philman_36]

And I stand in their camp against the UN zoning intentions.
They're following Agenda 21 guidelines, they're not standing up against them! And they're probably using your tax dollars to do it as well!

@U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY; AGENDAS FOR CHOICE-MAKING & ACTION

*Notes: This synthesis of local Community Sustainability organizing frameworks, agendas, contexts and strategy options is drafted at the personal request of the Honorable Wally N'Dow, Secretary General for Habitat II, the U.N. urban-ecological summit of June, 1996 in Istanbul, Turkey. It is a guide, or "sustainability roadmap," for anyone seeking to focus on the transition from the unsustainable to the sustainable for their own community.
Agenda K: Local Micro-Economics/The Community Sustainability Marketplace
Community Supported Agriculture/consumer collectives

[philman_36]

From the same link... Agenda C: Local Urban Environmental Design (UED)
Also involved are certain elemental features of local public/private UED operations only touched upon here. There should be authentic interdisciplinary professionalism at higher administrative levels and in key departments such as those of planning, public works, zoning and economic development. UED typically employs focal teams and coordination groups of a diverse cast - - ones suited to specific tasks in the development aspects of the community. It may employ public campaigns and such integrative management structures as key-agency lead assignments, private consultants, ombudspersons, quasi-governmental organizations, and inter-jurisdictional compacts.

Somebody is getting played 'cause they're ignorant.

[philman_36]

Don't be so gullible Cboldt. Not everything is as it appears.

@The 8th Conference of the International Environment Forum Cultivating Sustainable Lifestyles

Community supported agriculture (CSA) or box scheme brings benefits to the community such as connecting with the farmer (knowing who grows your produce and where), learning about new vegetables and how to use seasonal ingredients, eliminating packaging and transportation costs (both direct costs and environmental costs), and reducing waste since produce does not need to meet market cosmetic standards. CSAs create a sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land. They support the biodiversity of a given area and the diversity of agriculture through the preservation of small farms producing a wide variety of crops.

Here are some more links for you Nachum on Agenda 21.

[Nachum]

More info is always good. Thanks.

[Cboldt]

-- Don't be so gullible Cboldt. Not everything is as it appears. --

True that. From what you've presented, there are some parts of Agenda 21 that I think are good. Not that they should be mandated, just that I think local self-sufficiency is, on balance, a social strength.

[philman_36]

@URBAN AGRICULTURETo foster the development and growth of urban agriculture, a city may have to consider implementing techniques that include zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans and, in some cases, state legislation.
Urban agriculture plays an important role as part of an environmental sustainability program. It is recognized in Agenda 21 that “major adjustments are needed in agricultural, environmental and macroeconomic policy, at both national and international levels, in developed as well as developing countries, to create the conditions for sustainable agriculture and rural development,” (United Nations). This goal is also linked to the promotion of sustainable development, addressing the need for internal resource development, integration of environmental infrastructure, sustainable land-use planning and management, and access to land resources as an essential component of low-impact lifestyles. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a newer example of the urban farming enterprise. The CSA model began in rural areas, and has now worked its way into more urban areas. A person participating in a CSA program buys a share in a local farm, paying up-front dues to receive produce regularly throughout the growing season. Many CSAs directly respond to food security issues by offering shares to low-income households through grants, adopt-a-share programs, and other subsidies (CFSC 2003).

You want some more or is that enough?

[philman_36]

...I think local self-sufficiency is, on balance, a social strength.
Look at the dichotomy of your own words! Self-sufficiency vs social strength.

...there are some parts of Agenda 21 that I think are good.
Then you're a fool, for if you accept a part you accept the whole.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Applying for the permit was giving the vampire access to the house."

Yep. When you play "their" game they get to make the rules and they can change them anytime they like and you get to smile and nod and say "yessir: or end up in the pokey.

[sport]

Continue electing sobs like Harry Reid and other Democrats and this is what you get. I was going to put “This is the end result” but it is not the end result. The end result will be the camps that Glen Beck, etal say do not exist. I would elaborate more but the SS monitors this website.

[Cboldt]

-- Look at the dichotomy of your own words! Self-sufficiency vs social strength. --

What I meant to convey was something in the nature of "local self sufficiency" meaning groups smaller than countries, and probably smaller than states; but at the same time, not literal self-sufficiency. Said another way, there is substantial risk when life depends on centralized services, with the notion of "centralized" being an interstate arrangement. I think that there is strength to be had when communities can support themselves - versus a situation where communities are unable to support themselves.

-- Then you're a fool, for if you accept a part you accept the whole. --

Like, if a communist said it was good for people to be armed, then I would accept communism? That if one finds somebody has a good idea, then that person is in 100% agreement with the other's goals and means? Is that your contention?

Nice chatting. Thanks for the Agenda 21 information. I've got to get back to the salt mine.

[sport]

I share your sentiments. What one sows, one also reaps. Let them keep electing Democrats and sobs like Reid.

[dragnet2]

Government at all levels has a great desire to control and regulate everything we do in life. Everything except things such as controlling and securing our borders and sovereignty.

Government at all levels, is completely out of control.

[dragnet2]

I hate to sound callous and cruel, but these people strike me as a bunch of tofu sucking, sprout munching pantywaists, every one of whom, to a man, or woman, voted unanimously for Zero, swooning over the concept of “Hope and Change.”

January edition of the Limbaugh Letter has an article about Quail Hollow Farm fighting Big Farm Government Entitled: No Picnic

[cracker45]

I’m with you; this story sounds like shiite that was just made up for PR purposes. Why didn’t they just “escort” the idiot inspector off their property? Where was a search (or any other kind) of warrant? Why did she destroy (food) evidence? What inspector shows up with a huge supply of chlorine bleach to “inspect” food? Somethin’ smells fishy!

JC

[cracker45]

I’m with you; this story sounds like shiite that was just made up for PR purposes. Why didn’t they just “escort” the idiot inspector off their property? Where was a search (or any other kind) of warrant? Why did she destroy (food) evidence? What inspector shows up with a huge supply of chlorine bleach to “inspect” food? Somethin’ smells fishy!

JC

[lowbridge]

Bump

[LilAngel]

I stopped reading when I got to the part where the guests who were invited to this private party that should never have been subject to the same rules and regulations as a commercial enterprise, had paid in advance.

[Sopater]

Did you get video?

CSA Farm Inspection Videos

[Sopater]

...as soon as I saw the stuff about pure organic farming I began to wonder if this was a cat fight between lefties. Now the wonder is turning into something more like certitude.

It's happening to Americans.

[Sopater]

Shouldn’t the author have included these details in the article?

Good point, my bad. I didn't see an author either but posted anyway. After doing further research, I've found some better sources with better references. I probably would have done better to post one of those.

Here's a story on the event from the Las Vegas Sun.