fresh means fresh

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“Fresh” Means FRESH Post Harvest Handling and Storage Presented By Josh Hardin Sheridan, AR SSAWG 2017 Lexington, KY

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“Fresh” Means FRESH

Post Harvest Handling and Storage

Presented By Josh HardinSheridan, AR

SSAWG 2017Lexington, KY

Overview Two Farms Two Scales

− Hardin Farms

− Laughing Stock Farm Our Crops

− Corn, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers

− Root Crops (Potatoes, Onions, Ginger)

− Tomatoes, Peppers Cool bot storage vs. Walk in Cooler

Mobile Cool Storage vs Reefer

Thoughts & Questions

Hardin Family Farms 5th Generation row crop & vegetable farm 50 acres vegetables, 12 Certified

Naturally Grown Services family retail store, 12 local

farmers markets, New South Grower’s Cooperative, numerous peddlers & resellers

Main crops-Watermelons, cantaloupes, sweet corn, squash, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, beans, onions

Getting The Sweetest Corn Early Morning Harvest Direct to hydro cooler, ice

pack, or spread in cooler Need enough labor to keep up

with successive plantings Corn on the plant 1 day past

ripe is unmarketable Heat, lack of water, lack of

nitrogen, general plant stress will cause early and reduced yields

Melon Storage & Handling Don't require cold storage Must be moved to shade

immediately Pick, move to shade, then

move to dock when sun is gone

Place in bins once melons have cooled and become firmer

Handle melons based on customer's needs

Avoid Squishy Squash Fresh market squash should never

go below 45-50 degrees

Cut down on bruising by wearing jersey type gloves while harvesting

Keep as dry as possible, water causes decay

If squash is cooled it must remain at that temp until sold or it will sweat and brown

Longer term storage requires absorbent pads & paper

Laughing Stock Farm

Small scale organic operation

1 Acre of raised beds

3 Hoops, 1 movable, 2 fixed

2012 First Production year

Small Scale Handling

By nature small scale is less bound by large equipment

More diversity means different temp and storage requirements

Small scale producers are direct market by necessity

Root Crops New Potatoes should

be kept dirt on until just before market

Growing above ground means less washing and less digging

Preirrigate before harvesting

Bunching in the field saves lots of time

Root Crops

Handle in as few steps as possible.

Root crops have more storage life than above ground crops

Root crops hold well in cool soil

Baby Hawaiian Ginger

Baby means little to no skin

Shelf life is short 2-3 days fresh

Frozen can hold 2-3 months

Harvest close to delivery

Leave 6-8 inches of stalk

Wrap crates with wet towels and keep in dark cool room

Harvest Plan Handling produce early

in the day cuts down on heat stress

Block families and similar harvest types together (Cole, root, leafy)

Coordinate all harvests to cut down time sitting in field and speed transport to cool room

Multiple plantings Overlapping harvest

dates Intelligent projections

Cool Bot Technology Well insulated room

can hold below 40 20 x 20 costs less

than $50 month Requires cheaper

type units <$200 Perfect for short

term storage for almost all crops

Mobile Cool Bot

DIY Insulation $400

A/C Unit $120 Top & Bottom

Insulation $30 Maintenance ?

Rules of Thumbs If it doesn’t look good when

you pick it, it won't get any better.

Have a strict cull process for restaurants farmers markets and roadside stands.

Stay away from bleach & use peroxide, Dr. Bronner's, Oxi-Date, or natural soap when sterilizing and cleaning

Key Factors in Post Harvest Success

Production practices

Environmental stress

Soil conditions Overall health of

plants Sanitary handling

areas and storage

Questions & Thoughts?

Josh [email protected]

870-866-3753

Thank You For Your Time!