The begin market nurseryman learn quickly that there is a great length — no matter how large or small the physical distance may be — between the garden and the client . A beautiful head ofbroccoliin the field , for exercise , does not needfully equal a beautiful head of broccoli on the table — you need to take a lot of guardianship during harvest to insure its quality remains intact . Use these tools and tips to ensure your produce start from field to fork as good , bracing and flavoursome as it was when it was picked .
1. CoolBot
Quickly cooling down produce is often the paint to its longevity . Because most lead off farmers do n’t have luxuries like walk - in tank to cool veg chop-chop , Eric Wooldridge from Bells Bend Farm in Nashville , recommend a handy equipment called theCoolBot , which turns a regular air conditioner into a powerful and adjustable cooling gimmick , help you to transform any small way into a impermanent cooler .
2. Plastic Tubs
If you influence on a small scale and transforming a room into a paseo - in cooler is n’t viable , you could hydro - cool down your produce in large plastic bathing tub to preserve their impudence . Hydro - chilling is the act of dunking green goods in coolheaded , clean water to cool down it down . Be sure to transfer the water and clean the bathtub between veggie types to avoid possible cross - taint .
3. Spray Bottle
breaking wind , heat and sun can all have fateful effects on the state of your vegetable , and wilt vegetable can have disastrous effects on the province of yourmarket sales agreement . Mist leafy greens and other produce that wilts as often as needed from harvest time through the market place day to keep them coolheaded , hydrous and looking fresh .
bribe a dainty spray bottle , sooner from your local garden store , where they may have one for exactly this use . check that it can bring about a light mist , as shooting a concentrated stream of water at your veggies could unwittingly damage them . On our farm , we often mist a bin of vegetables and cover with a white , dampish sheet to keep the veggies shade , out of the wind and moist .
4. Harvest Bins
When purchasing harvest bank identification number , look for bins or basket specifically design for harvest home that fit together , stack easily and protect the food . Also , view what you ’re develop : Tomatoes , for example , should n’t be stacked in a binful more than a couple layers high for care of bruising . Think about collecting several shallow binful for more slight vegetables and several deep bin for light green goods , like greens . Pavel Ovechkin of Pavel ’s Garden in Oldham County , Ky. , recommend using a sort of pliant totes with interlocking lids in stead of the wax produce boxes for easy stacking , longevity , cleanliness and to keep veggie cool .
5. Market Vehicle
Nearly every professional Fannie Farmer has a vehicle to enthral vegetables to market . Truckswith 8 - by-4 - substructure beds and motor home upside can be courteous , as they double as farm vehicles . Although it is essential to have the camper top so as to keep the confidential information off your veggies , pack under the camper top can be notably stressful on the back and impel you into tight situations . Vans have the advantage of privileged air - conditioning — which can make all the difference on a live Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and a foresighted drive — plus side doors , which twist loading and unloading into a more efficient labor . For smaller gardens , a place wagon or small laggard could be a nice alternative to buy a larger truck or van . No matter what you apply , park it in the shade before and after harvesting .
6. Individual Packaging
shaping produce bags , about 1 gallon in size , are n’t a necessity but can be very ready to hand in keep veg impertinent . Plastic retains moisture and keeps the wind off greens and other leafy green goods . There are even biodegradable produce handbag available , but it may take some searching to find a unspoilt price and intersection . However , if you are able to keep your cat valium nerveless , misted and out of the steer , you may simply use biodegradable twine or rubber bands to separately wrap your produce and keep sustainability .
Post-Harvest Storage Tips
so as to keep your green groceries in top condition until market day , there are a few other best practices to follow . sure fruits , such as pear , Malus pumila and plums , produce ethylene gas which can damage other crop . Store these items singly , and always consider how a fruit or vegetable might dissemble another . This article on ancestor - wine cellar storagewill provide you with some helpful tips .
Prepare a space for repositing before you harvest : a nerveless , gloomy , dry cellar for potatoes ; a tender , dark berth by from other garden truck foronions ; a warm , dark place for curingsweet white potato vine , et cetera .
And finally , when handle veggie for long or unforesightful reposition , maintain healthful habits , lave hands often , clean produce bins after every enjoyment , and never swear out or strip veggie where you wield meat or animals .
