Supervisors to study catered food at microbreweries and wineries

A pilot project will be conducted to determine the suitability of catered food at microbreweries and wineries.

A 5-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote May 4 directed the county's chief administrative officer to conduct a pilot project to study catered food service for public events held at local breweries and wineries.

The project will include exploring options to develop a local catering ordinance which would allow for expanded catered food service while ensuring food safety and public health protection, and the chief administrative officer was directed to return to the county supervisors within 210 days with the results of the pilot project and recommendations regarding an ordinance.

"This is another step towards adding to our ag tourism program, our ag tourism industry, for the unincorporated area," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

"This pilot project gives the county the opportunity to study the impacts and benefits that catering services will have on local breweries and wineries," said Supervisor Bill Horn.

The county adopted a tiered winery ordinance in 2010 which became the model for a tiered equestrian ordinance and a tiered beekeeping ordinance and will also be used as the model for an ordinance to promote agricultural tourism for cheesemaking and microbrewery operations.

Under state law, wine and beer tasting facilities which do not serve food are classified as retail food facilities and thus exempt from California Retail Food Code requirements. The tiered winery ordinance allows for catered food service, but state law does not specifically define catering. "It's not clear," Jacob said.

The county currently considers catering to be a food service option for private events, and one intent of the pilot project is to develop a definition of catering which allows more flexibility for food service during public gatherings while maintaining compliance with food safety practices.

"We think it's just great to see the unincorporated area develop an economic model," said George Novinger, whose Vineyard Hacienda winery is on the Spring Valley/Jamul border.

"It's a great vision for the unincorporated area to be able to have these opportunities," Jacob said. "It's another way people can provide additional opportunities to visitors."