Desert Farming Initiative Sells Produce as Retail For the First Time

For the first time ever, the University of Nevada's Desert Farming Initiative is selling their fresh vegetables directly to the public as opposed to just whole sale. 

"More money we make, the more people we get to teach about local food and I'm excited about that," said project manager Jennifer Ott.

All the money raised goes towards hiring more students. 

"We've just really been growing, it's been a good response from the community," said Ott.

This is Renee's second time to stop by.

"I like fresh vegetables fresh out of the garden," said Renee. 

Dalton Pils is an intern, and helps out with a variety of different tasks, both at the stand itself and back at the hoop houses.

"I came in not knowing anything about farms and growing vegetables and now I'm pretty good. It's fun to do," said Pils.

He loves interacting with the customers too.

"You get a name with the product that they're buying," said Pils. 

Unlike whole sale, the stand gives the Desert Farming Initiative the opportunity to grow and sell a variety of different vegetables instead of just one type.

"We've been growing, two maybe three items in very large quantities and after a while our interns get tired of cutting lettuce all the time," said Ott.

"It's a lot of work, a lot of hard work," said Pils. 

But it's paying off. 

"We originally thought we'd be here through the beginning of June but we'll probably actually be here much longer than that," said Ott. 

But there's more gardening to be done, they haven't set an end time just yet. For now they are open on Thursdays, from 3:30 to 6pm, located on 5895 Clean Water Way in Sparks.