Hope Farmer's Market Grower Training Session 1 Post Harvest Handling
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Post Harvest Handling On Small and Mid Sized Farms Presented By Josh Hardin Laughing Stock Farm Sheridan, AR
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Transcript of Hope Farmer's Market Grower Training Session 1 Post Harvest Handling
Post Harvest Handling On Small and Mid Sized Farms
Presented By Josh HardinLaughing Stock Farm
Sheridan, AR
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 Farms 5th Generation row crop & vegetable farm 100 acres vegetables, 1200 acres
commodity crops Services family retail store, 6 local
farmers markets, 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 in the cooler!
Cut down on bruising by putting in quarts
Keep as dry as possible, water causes decay
Squash can also dry out, containers should breathe but be mostly enclosed
If squash is cooled it must remain at that temp until sold
Laughing Stock Farm
Beginning, small scale organic operation
1 Acre of raised beds
2 Hoops, 1 movable, 1 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
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
