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

Questions & Thoughts?

Josh [email protected]

870-866-3753

Thank You For Your Time!