LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Department of Agriculture recognized a small business for their community work.
Blue Lizard Farm, located in Lincoln County in Caliente, earned the Nevada Agriculture, Food and Beverage Small Business of the Year award.
According to Made in Nevada, for several years, the farm has packaged a variety of produce.
"This award recognizes the extraordinary work done by agriculture, food , and beverage industries in Nevada," officials said.
Lombardo said the farm is a small business with a big heart providing fresh, seasonal produce for its community.
Blue Lizard Farm owner Rodney Mehring says they've been in operation since 2010, and even though they are located more than 150 miles northeast of Las Vegas, their produce is distributed all across the valley through the Home Feed Nevada Program.
“It gets distributed through Three Squares to other food banks across the city," said Mehring.
Mehring says he's passionate about helping those in need.
“It’s the best thing that I can ever want to do, is to share my art and the flavors that come with the food," said Mehring. "I think it’s more about the children, in that they’re getting the food that they would normally not get, we’re training their taste buds for the future.”
Mehring says there's a growing need of farmers in the state.
“Just one example, 60 million pounds of tomatoes, whether it’s ketchup or fresh tomatoes, comes to Las Vegas alone, we don’t produce that ourselves, that comes from outside our state," said Mehring.
“We want to keep it home because that revenue stays here," said NV Gov. Lombardo.
Along with the Small Business of the Year Award, the state unveiled its newest Craft Beverage Passport for 2024.
“With 45 different breweries, distilleries and wineries from all over the state of Nevada, we are excited to offer this program to get people involved and to get people visiting our establishments," said Nevada Department of Agriculture Senior Trade Officer Dillon Davidson.
The passport showcases those businesses and offers deals at them all.
If you visit all the businesses on the passport, you could win a Made in Nevada gift basket worth $150.
The passport is in its third year. The goal is to provide a "fun, educational, and rewarding time" exploring Nevada craft beverage businesses.
Officials say the passport has a page for each featured establishment with information about their craft beverages. There is also a section for notes and a space for a stamp to mark a visit.
The passports can be found at participating businesses, but you can also view the passport here.
