87 Chapter 13: Lagniappe: Fairs, Festivals, Food Trucks, and Other Special Events

Chapter 13: Lagniappe: Fairs, Festivals, Food Trucks, and Other Special Events

Introduction for Moodle module:

This module explores the dynamic world of temporary foodservice operations including food trucks, festival vendors, farmers markets, and special events. Louisiana hosts some of the most vibrant and rich festivals in the U.S., with over 400 festivals held annually celebrating everything from music and heritage to crawfish and strawberries. Learning about food safety at fairs and festivals is especially important because these events serve millions of people each year while experiencing unique challenges not faced by traditional restaurants. These challenges include outdoor environments, limited resources, minimal equipment, and high-volume fast-paced operations where food safety violations may occur more easily. When foodborne illness outbreaks happen at these events, they can affect many people while simultaneously damaging the reputation of tourism-dependent communities. This chapter will teach you about regulations and requirements for temporary foodservice operations, Louisiana’s cottage food laws, and the critical methods for keeping food safe in challenging event environments.

Fact vs. Myth: Food trucks and festival vendors don’t need to follow the same food safety regulations as traditional restaurants.

Answer: FALSE – This is a MYTH

Student Learning Outcomes:

Examine the unique characteristics of temporary foodservice events, including pop-ups, festivals/fairs, and food trucks

Display a knowledge of the cottage foods laws in Louisiana Display a knowledge of rules and regulations specific to street vendor events

Identify potential threats to food safety and preventative measures, particularly those related to fairs, festivals, food trucks, and other special events. (CLO #1, Bloom’s Lvl 3)

Identify at least 10 methods to keep food safe within a temporary foodservice operation throughout the flow of food.

Introduction

The Role of Festivals in North America

The United States hosts approximately 2,000 festivals and fairs annually. The events showcase numerous themes and special events which include holidays and seasons as well as farming and education and entertainment and food and drinks and local traditions and arts and spiritual practices. Festivals enable people to experience new activities while drawing visitors to local areas which stimulates economic growth in the region.

The attendance numbers at festivals differ substantially from one event to another. The 2015 survey revealed that 22% of festivals draw fewer than 25,000 visitors yet 1% of festivals attract more than 1 million attendees. The majority of festivals exist between these attendance levels.

Food Safety Challenges at Temporary Food Stands

Temporary foodservice operations differ substantially from brick-and-mortar restaurants and commercial operations and institutional foodservice establishments particularly those found at fairs and festivals. The distinctive challenges of temporary foodservice operations make it harder to maintain food safety standards than brick-and-mortar operations which could lead to food safety violations.

The resources available to temporary foodservice operations remain limited when compared to traditional brick-and-mortar operations. The available heating and cooling areas are limited in size while food preparation spaces are restricted and water access is limited with insufficient handwashing facilities. These limitations, especially, may create food safety risks.