4-H Foundation Bake Sale
c...@frii.com
Mr. McGrath,
The Larimer County 4-H Foundation is requesting an explanation to your decision concerning a bake sale at the 65th Annual 4-H Carnival. Can you please furnish a reason for this decision? The Larimer County Facilities Agreement section 12 allows for exceptions we would appreciate an explanation of why an exception is not being made, a bake sale that has been going on in Larimer County for 64 years and has the Larimer County Health Departments approval.
Thank you for your time
Cindy Buckardt
President
Larimer County 4-H Foundation
P.O. Box 270371
Fort Collins, CO 80527
Conor McGrath
Ms. Buckardt,
Thank you for your email and inquiry on behalf of the 4-H Foundation.
I acknowledge and appreciate this topic is important to you, and I have included my most recent response below, dated January 5, 2024.
As a seasoned restaurateur, hotelier, and campus administrator, assuming the risk of a non-commercial food product being distributed at a facility I operate is not a risk I wish to assume.
I ask you to review the communication from the Health Department and report it holistically, which you have not done in your recent communications.
I have provided sufficient answers to 4-H Foundation requests regarding this topic repeatedly throughout the past year. This is the last response the 4-H Foundation should expect from me on this topic.
I wish the Foundation good luck with the event and hope it provides the necessary resources for 4-H Clubs to continue their excellent work in Larimer County.
---
January 5, 2024 – Email response from McGrath, Conor – Ms. Buckardt RE: Foundation Carnival
Per the attached letter, dated February 1, 2023, which was again shared with you via email on March 10, 2023, The Ranch has made the final ruling on this matter.
Per the email dated September 1, 2023, from Nicole Aguilar with the Department of Health & Environment, she explained to you while the Cottage Food Act does not prohibit such activities, the event complex has the latitude to enforce enhanced policies, and the attached letter indicates The Ranch's decision to exercise this ability.
Nicole Aguilar with the Department of Health & Environment
"…Please
be advised the statutes that allow non-profit organizations to serve or sell
food at special events without obtaining a retail food license and the Cottage
Food Act that provides for some home-prepared food to be sold to the public do
not supersede any restrictions or limitations the event site, event site
manager or event coordinator puts in place for the said event.
I have copied Coner McGrath, the director of The Ranch Events Complex, on this
email to ensure we are all on the same page regarding what the Health Department's rules
and regulations allow, with the understanding that that event site can set more
restrictive requirements…"
The Ranch has communicated this policy 13 months in advance of the 4-H Carnival event date; thus, I trust clubs and the Foundation had ample time to organize a successful fundraiser without the presence of a bake sale.
To be clear, foods sold or otherwise distributed at The Ranch must be commercially pre-packed, ready-to-eat food products purchased from licensed distributors only (i.e., Sam’s Club, Walmart, and Costco).
---
