LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As food recalls continue to expand — from lettuce and eggs to jalapeño peppers — a local organization is offering Las Vegas Valley residents an alternative: growing their own produce at home.
Garden Farms of Nevada says its phones have been ringing as parasitic and salmonella outbreaks affecting fresh produce have more people asking where their food comes from.
“They are looking for fresh fruit that is safe, and we can provide services to help you learn how to grow your own food in the desert,” said Wendy Wilson of Garden Farms of Nevada.
What prompted the surge in interest
Earlier this week, Chipotle announced it was pulling jalapeños from some of its restaurants after determining the peppers could potentially be tied to a salmonella outbreak. The FDA recently recalled upwards of 1.6 million eggs, removing them from shelves across 17 states. The CDC has also continued to warn shoppers about a parasitic illness linked to lettuce.
“Recently we’ve had tons of calls, where can we get fresh fruit and vegetables?” Wilson said.
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What Garden Farms offers
The organization does not just build gardens — it teaches homeowners how to grow their own fresh produce so they can rely less on the grocery store.
“It’s a farmer on the go. We can come into your space and show you how to grow. It’s priced per square footage,” Wilson said.
Wilson said a variety of produce grows well in the Las Vegas desert.
“Basil, tarragon, rosemary — everything that you would find in a typical kitchen herb garden. But we’re also growing seasonal plants right now like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, and some root veggies too. We’ve got some sweet potatoes in, potatoes,” Wilson said.
Options for limited space
For residents with limited space or HOA restrictions, Wilson said options still exist.
“You can rent a community garden here. Or you can just start with hydroponics. There’s a lot of different options out there,” Wilson said.
At Garden Farms’ pumpkin patch in Henderson, locals can rent a raised garden bed or shop fresh produce during open market days.
Wilson said the concern over food safety is affecting eating habits.
“Everybody’s wondering where it’s coming from. And they’re scaling down — they’re not eating their veggies,” Wilson said.
She said growing at home offers a direct solution.
“You can definitely grow your own salad mix right now and know where it’s coming from and get the benefits of touching the earth and being out in the sunshine a little bit and kind of getting back to the earth,” Wilson said.
A Facebook poll asking whether readers would rather buy produce at the store or grow their own drew more than 100 responses, with the overwhelming majority saying they would prefer to grow their own.
For those interested in starting a backyard garden or shopping the farm, a full event calendar is available at gardenfarms.net.
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