Keep Ants and Flies Out of Your Charlotte Food Truck

July 1, 2017 Kristin Dodd

Regional Charlotte is a Haven for Food Truck Picnic Pests

Regional Charlotte serves as a summer haven for Carolina food truck events. Some of it is specific to the food truck industry. All of it is focused on family fun and entertainment. People come from miles around. And everyone enjoys spending quality time with his or her favorite Carolina picnic pests… Not!

Yet insects, bugs and mosquitoes are always an expected part of Charlotte summer festival activities. Visitors get a taste of outdoor fun, abundant entertainment, and the wonderful aroma of well-stocked Carolina food truck vendors. They also meet an assortment of unwanted ants, flies, bees, wasps, and yellow jackets, mosquitoes and even the occasional snake in the grass. It just all goes together:

• Summer
• Fun
• Food
• AND, unfortunately, Carolina pests

This article offers seven organic solutions on how to keep ants and flies out of your Charlotte food truck. But first, take a peek at a few resources on local summer events for you and your patrons:

1. Lake Lure, NC 2017 Dirty Dancing Festival

It’s the 8th year of celebration in honor of the 1987 hit movie. Expect to experience two days of dancing, food, fun and live music. Bring a blanket and chairs. Order up from one of the many attending food truck services. Settle down for a lakeside viewing of Dirty Dancing. Online ticket sales end 8/17 at 11pm.

2. Charlotte’s Original Sycamore Brewing Food Truck Rally

Visit historic South End for an opportunity to meet friends, enjoy a unique Charlotte tradition, and partake of some of the most exceptional food in the city. It’s Food Truck Friday – South End. Activities include a dog friendly atmosphere, family fun, live music, and custom pairing of an award-winning local craft beer outlet to an ever-changing line-up of the best food trucks in the city.

3. Matthews Food Truck Fridays

Runs March thru September on every 2nd and 4th Friday. Visitors enjoy music by regional bands, the Craft beer Pavilion, outdoor comedy, and the scent and flavor of some of the best gourmet food truck vendors in the Carolinas. Neither pets nor alcohol are permitted at this event. More info on Matthews food truck Fridays.

7 Tips to Help Keep Picnic Pests Out of Your Carolina Event Food Truck

Regional Charlotte offers an abundance of event opportunities for both patrons and vendors. All attendees have fun and experience new adventures. But no one enjoys the experience of a food truck burdened by ants, flies and other annoying local pests. So keep it joyful for all.

Use the following seven organic aids to prevent picnic pests from overrunning your food truck:

 1. Citronella Candles

Spruce up your truck with some lovely evening lighting while also knocking back the local mosquito population. Typically, the oil from the candles works within a 5-foot radius of the flame.

2. Run the Fans

Even a small battery-operated fan can help. Bugs don’t like the moving air. Best move: Install a nice box fan.

3. Put it Under Wraps

Covering the outgoing food and drinks seems a no-brainer. But don’t overlook the fixings within the truck. PS… Don’t forget to get rid of unnecessary food scraps.

4. Install Electronic Pest Repellant Devices

They are compact, easy to use, and come cheap from the local hardware store. A decent butane pest repellant device can knock back black flies and mosquitoes for hours.

5. Garlic

Garlic isn’t just for keeping vampires away! This ingredient also repels ants, flies and mosquitoes.

6. Corn Starch

Spread a sprinkle-border around the joints and corners of your food truck. It’s not 100 percent protection, but ants do tend to avoid crossing the line. Tip: This also works in campers and travel trailers.

7. Lemons and Peppermint

Many locals attest to effective pest control linked to fresh lemon, lemon oils and peppermint oil. Combine them in a small spray bottle with 80 percent water. Spray on serving window sliders and other joints. This mixture dispels the scent of food and pheromones and repels ants.

Professional Pest Management for Your Carolina Food Truck

DIY pest control is not always so easy as it is made to sound. Sometimes you need professional services. Since 1939, Carolina Pest Management has provided local resources for safer, greener and more effective prevention of pests, animal control and wildlife removal, and moisture control. If you need help getting the ants and flies out of your food trucks in Charlotte: contact Carolina Pest Management today.