Clean Up Your Veggies! Post-Harvest Handling System Workshop

March 9, 2015


Join NOFA-NY and Cornell Vegetable Program's Robert Hadad to learn how to design, build, and operate a small-scale, DIY post-harvest handling system! This great workshop will focus on the trifecta of good washing and handling—food safety, maintaining high quality and efficiency, and affordability for new and small growers. The session starts with a discussion and hands-on demonstration of how to design and set-up your wash line, tables, and packing shed, with a focus on safe and efficient product flow to separate “dirty” field harvested produce from the washed and “clean” final product. Next, we'll look at setting up standard operating practices covering a range of methods of washing produce, including dunking, spraying, and aerating, as well as the why and how of using organic sanitizers. This session finishes with an examination of clean-up procedures and post-harvest handling considerations, including re-cooling, packing, and storage. If you want to build or upgrade your wash lines and post-harvest handling techniques and produce a safer, longer storing product, this workshop is for you!

Registration Instructions: The fees are $10/person or $15 two or more people/farm. Pre-registration is encouraged due to a capacity of 50 people. Pre-registration closes at 4:00 PM on March 4th. Pre-register and pay online or call Stephanie at NOFA-NY 585-271-1979 x509. 

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2012-49200-20031 and funded by Northeast Extension Risk Management Education, the USDA NIFA, Cornell University, and NOFA-NY.