With the upcoming deadline for the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program, we are publishing a series of articles about low cost equipment that can make farming more efficient on a small-scale. All of the equipment highlighted works well for farmers on rented land, as it can be easily moved to a new site. In this article, we highlight the use of coolbot walk-in coolers A lower cost cooler option Safe storage of produce generally requires temperatures below 40 degrees. Normal walk-in coolers require a condenser and evaporator to bring a walk-in cooler down to this temperature range. A CoolBot controller works with a normal air conditioner to achieve the same result. When is a CoolBot the right type of cooler? CoolBots are generally much simpler and less expensive than traditional walk-in coolers. However, they are not always the right infrastructure for a produce farm. Coolbots work well with smaller walk-in coolers (less than 10’ x 20’), coolers that are very
With the upcoming deadline for the Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program, we are publishing a series of articles about low cost equipment that can make farming more efficient on a small-scale. All of the equipment highlighted works well for farmers on rented land, as it can be easily moved to a new site. In this article, we highlight ideas for low-cost packsheds. Packsheds are an essential part of food safe produce handling on the farm. Let’s begin by looking at common reasons for building a packshed and key features that must be included in any packshed design. Why build a packshed? Packsheds provide an accessible space for washing, packing and grading produce on vegetable farms. Packsheds serve as a central space for storing harvest supplies like knives, rubber bands, produce bins and wax boxes. Packsheds allow farmers to clean and pack vegetables in a food safe manner. This leads to better quality and longer lasting produce, which increases farm profitability