How to build a spray table/washing bin frame for safely washing fruits and vegetables

 Annalisa Hultberg, Extension Educator, food safety

Are you looking for low-cost and safe ways to wash fruits and vegetables to prepare them for sale this summer?  You do not need to spend a lot of money to build a safe washing station. While stainless steel and permanent tanks and sinks are going to last longer, you can use simple and cheap materials to build a station that could be placed indoors or outside on grass or gravel. These are some ideas for creating food safe and low-cost wash stations for your farm or community garden. 

Building the combination tub and spray table

While some spray tables use screen or plastic netting, rigid plastic greenhouse benchtop is a more study option and will also support the weight of boxes and heavy produce well. This allows this table to be multi functional.

This design is for a combination flat topped spray table and washing tub station. This estimate for prices was updated in April 2024. The current total is approximately $438 in materials. Your results will likely vary based on availability of products in your area, and if you already have materials on hand.

 Photos: David van Eeckhout, The Good Acre

Materials List

Item	Qty	Description and Link	Source		Price	Total
Lumber	14	2x6x10' ground contact green treated lumber	Menard's		$9.59	$134.26
Screws	2	1 lb boxes #9 x 2 1/2 exterior screws for structure	Home Depot		$8.97	$17.94
Paint	1	Exterior paint for wooden parts	Menard's		$31.00	$31.00
Bench Tops	6	A/V Plastic Benchtop 18x36	Berry Hill Drip Irrigation		$11.36	$68.16
Screws	1	1 lb box #8 x 1 1/4 exterior screws for benchtops	Home Depot		$8.97	$8.97
Wash tubs	2	2-bushel produce lugs (2 pack)	Glacier Valley		$55.00	$110.00
Drains for tubs	2	1" bulkhead fittings for draining lugs (2 pack)	Amazon		$9.90	$19.80
Drain Plugs	1	4-pack of Size 6.5 rubber stoppers for lug drains	Amazon		$8.69	$8.69
Freight	1	Shipping	Berry Hill		$40.00	$40.00

Building Instructions

Step 1: Cut lumber according to the cut list chart below. (For example - Row 1: 2 Boards cut to give you 2 – 68 inch boards and 2 - 36 inch boards.) Step 2: Assemble legs: Screw one 36" piece to one 30.5" piece, repeat 12 times Step 3: Assemble bench frames: Screw one 36.5" piece into the end of one 52" piece, repeat until you have a rectangle. Step 4: Assemble tub support frame: Measure the width of the tubs below the lip and attach the 4 32" cross pieces to the 68" pieces the same width as the tub Step 5: Attach bench tops: Attach the three bench tops to each bench frame using screws. Step 6: Attach legs: Attach 4 legs to each top with 3-4 screws.

Wood parts list

Cut from the 14 2X6X10’ boards       

 

Qty	Length	Description
12	36"	Long part of leg
12	30.5	Short part of leg
4	32	Cross pieces for tub support
2	68	Long piece for tub support
6	52	Long piece for bench top
4	36.5	Short piece for bench top

Cut List 

# of Boards	1st Cut	2nd Cut	3rd Cut
2	68	36
2	36	32	32
4	52	30.5	30.5
2	36	36	36
2	52	36	30.5
2	36.5	36.5	30.5

Using the Table

Once built, this wash stand can be used to wash vegetables to prepare them for sale. Fill the tanks with water to rinse things like greens, or soak broccoli. Empty the tanks by removing the plug, or attach a hose and move the water away from your wash area. Use the spray tables to spray off things like carrots or bunched crops.

But remember, not all fruits and vegetables should be washed. If they are just a little dusty, a quick dry rub or dusting might be all that is needed. Some things, like berries, tomatoes, storage potatoes and many fresh herbs are not washed at all, or they will break down very quickly in storage. All produce should be washed prior to consumption by the customer, but it might not have to be washed at the farm.

For more information on postharvest handling, removing field heat and food safety when washing, see this UMN Extension webpage, Postharvest Handling of Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Minnesota.

(Thank you to Thomas Austin and the students in the Career and Technical Education program at Humboldt High School in St. Paul, MN for building the wash station prototypes and for the CAD drawing, and to David Van Eeckhout and Good Acre Food Hub for the original design.)