Food Safety and Quality | Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

Practical food safety and quality advice you can trust

Providing information, programs and training grounded in research to help Nevada's people, agencies and businesses improve food safety and quality.

Featured Programs

Food Business Center

Beginning Farmer and Rancher - Herds & Harvest Program

Livestock Biosecurity

Featured Informational Publication

Slices of hearty whole-grain bread topped with dark fruit jam sit on a rustic wooden surface, surrounded by grains and seeds, evoking a warm, wholesome breakfast setting.

Cottage Food Laws: Recent Trends and Major State Changes

This article highlights recent changes in U.S. cottage-food laws, including expanded online ordering and increased sales caps in several states. Many states updated rules to improve market access and support home-based food entrepreneurs while maintaining food-safety restrictions.

Read more about this Informational Publication

All Food Safety & Quality Programs

Beginning Farmer and Rancher - Herds & Harvest Program

Developing educational courses, workshops, technical assistance, business advice and mentoring support network for Nevada agricultural producers who are beginning or diversify a farm or ranch operation.

Cattlemen's Update

Cattlemen’s Update is Extension’s annual educational program offered for beef cattle producers to learn about issues affecting profitability and product quality in the Great Basin region.

Food Business Center

Providing training and technical assistance to help Nevada producers diversify and expand their product portfolio, optimize operational processes and ensure that those entering food processing are compliant with US requirements.

Food Systems

Explore Nevada’s food systems from farm to table. Learn about local production, processing, access, consumption, and recovery through Extension programs.

Healthy Food Systems

The Healthy Food Systems Program works to increase access to and knowledge about healthy foods within the community through direct education and policy, systems, and environmental changes. The program focuses on local food production, food preparation and processing, nutrition, and food security to successfully educate the community on how food systems influence health.

Home Food Preservation Program

The Home Food Preservation Program provides technical support on how to safely preserve foods through various methods and techniques.

Livestock Biosecurity

Biosecurity is important to keep your animals healthy and your business productive. Small steps can make a difference and prevent diseases in your livestock (cattle, swine, sheep, goats) and poultry.

Food Related News Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...


Corn Variety Trial 2012, Pershing County Alfalfa hay remains by far the most important crop, in terms of both acres harvested and value of production (Foster 2010). Small grains typically are grown for hay and are a rotational crop during the year(s) after an alfalfa field has been removed and when it is replanted. Foster, S., and Davison, J. 2012, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno
Entrenamiento en la Seguridad de Pesticidas: Como Protegerte Mientras se Aplican los Pesticidas Video El hecho de protegerte mientras se aplican los pesticidas es muy importante. Según la Agencia a cargo de la Protección Ambiental, un pesticida es cualquier sustancia o mezcla de sustancias destinadas a prevenir, destruir o repeler cualquier plaga. Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., and Harrison, D. 2020, University of Nevada, Extension, YouTube Channel
Entrenamiento en la Seguridad de Pesticidas: El Manejo Segura de Pesticidas Video En este video, hablaremos sobre el manejo seguro de pesticidas, que incluye cuatro áreas relacionadas con la seguridad: el almacenamiento adecuado de pesticidas, el transporte seguro de pesticidas, la eliminación de pesticidas que no se han utilizado y la eliminación de los contenedores que se usan para los pesticidas Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., and Harrison, D. 2020, University of Nevada, Extension, YouTube Channel
Evaluation of Food Action Planning Committee Meeting and Urban Agriculture and Food Sustainability Forum, August 23-24, 2017 Buffington, A., and Bosket, C. 2017, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, SP-18-01
Fall Vegetable Production On Small Acreage in Desert Climates Costs and Returns, 2012 This publication presents sample costs and returns to produce fall vegetables on small acreages in Nevada. It is intended to be a guide, used to make production decisions, determine potential returns and prepare business and marketing plans. Bishop, C. 2012, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, SP-12-
Food Safety for Children, Pregnant Women, Older Adults, and those with Impaired Immune Systems This fact sheet provides great insight into multiple ways to handle food to make it safe for children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with impaired immune systems. Learn more about storing, preparing, cooking food, foodborne illness, etc. Wilson, M. 2000, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-00-37
Food Safety in the Edible Garden Andrews, A. 2016, Reno Gazette-Journal
Food Safety in the Garden Andrews, A. and Morrow, L. 2014, Reno Gazette-Journal
Food Safety in the Kitchen This fact sheet explores food safety in the kitchen by understanding how to avoid cross-contamination, safe food handling, proper cutting boards, and many more. Petermeier, H. and Collins, C. 2006, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-06-01
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs): A Framework for Minimizing On-Farm Food Safety Hazards Approximately 48 million people in the United States get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases each year (CDC, 2011). Produce has continued to be implicated in major foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. Urbanowitz, S. 2013, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices: Water Use in Horticultural Systems Good agricultural practices (GAPs) and good handling practices (GHPs) encompass management practices producers, growers and packers of fresh produce should follow to minimize contamination of their product. This publication covers those practices related to water use. Urbanowitz, S. 2013, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Good Food Can Be Hard to Find Andrews, A. 2016, Reno Gazette-Journal
Nevada Processed Food Guide: Refrigerated, Cut Produce Food businesses can find support in the growing consumer interest in local foods. Knowing what is required to sell cut and packaged produce can be confusing. This document is a brief guide that outlines the resources and topics that should be considered to produce and sell refrigerated fruits and vegetables in Nevada. Gatzke, H., Allen, K., West, T., and Roemer, M. 2016, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Pesticide Safety Training: Handling Pesticides Safely Video This video discusses handling pesticides safely, which includes four areas of safety: properly storing pesticides, safely transporting pesticides, disposing of unused pesticides, and disposing of pesticide containers. Hefner, M., Kratsch, H. and Harrison, D. 2020, University of Nevada, Extension, YouTube Channel
Pesticide Safety Training: Keeping Yourself Safe during Pesticide Applications Video This video discusses how pesticides enter the body, first aid for pesticide exposure, the differences between pesticide poisoning and heat-related illness, and preventing heat-related illnesses. Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., and Harrison, D. 2020, University of Nevada, Extension, YouTube Channel
Pesticide Safety Training: Protecting Yourself While Applying Pesticides – Using Personal Protective Equipment Video Protecting yourself while applying pesticides is important. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy or repel any pest. Simply put, pesticides are substances intended to kill pests! Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., and Harrison, D. 2020, University of Nevada, Extension, YouTube Channel
Preparing, Cooking, & Storing Food Safely This fact sheet contains several examples and solutions to preparing, cooking, and storing food safely. Collins, C. and Petermeier, H. 2006, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-06-02
Preserving the Harvest Andrews, A. 2016, Reno Gazette-Journal
Selecting Vegetable Crops for Small-Scale Desert Production Many people consider vegetable production to be difficult in the desert. Production of vegetables is possible by selecting suitable crops and using effective growing techniques. Crop selection should use crops suited to the climate and season. Gatzke, H. 2012, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Summary Report Southern Nevada Food Council Visioning Session for the 2050 City of Las Vegas Master Plan This special publication provides a summary of the Visioning Session feedback, a compilation of initiatives and policies from other parts of the nation that may address member concerns, and a listing of recommendations to improve the local food system. Buffington, A. and Braxton, M. 2020, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno
Team YHEP Presents: Hydroponics Harvest and Donations Team YHEP shows you how we harvest and package our hydroponic produce for donation to our food pantry partners throughout Las Vegas! O'Callaghan, A., Braxton-Perry, T., Hansen, N., and Ford-Terry, I., 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, YouTube Channel
The Amazing Nutritious Papaya This fact sheet contains extensive information on papaya facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-25
The Nevada Pesticide Safety Education Program This fact sheet features a variety of important information on Nevada's pesticide safety program which includes certification, licensing requirements, responsibilities, pesticide programs, and many more. Learn through detailed tables and extensive detail about each topic mentioned. Johnson, W. 2006, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-06-65
The Unbelievable Kiwi This fact sheet contains extensive information on kiwi facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-23
Vertebrate Pest Management Vertebrate pests include animals with a backbone, such as ground squirrels, mice and pigeons. Hefner, M. 2019, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno. IP
Weed Management As with all pest management, it is essential to identify the pest before taking action. Most effective weed management plans include several control strategies. Weed control can be divided into five separate categories. Hefner, M. 2019, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno. IP
Women in science: a Q&A with CABNR pet food mercury researchers Professor Mae Gustin and fellow researchers Lindsay Chichester, Sarrah Dunham-Cheatam, Adriel Luippold and Margarita (Maggie) Vargas-Estrada talk about their work and answer related questions Andrews, A. 2019, Nevada Today