Set Up an Efficient Wash/Pack Facility
Robert Hadad, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Cornell Vegetable Program

The goal of this document is to provide more detail on setting up an efficient wash/pack facility with a focus on farm food safety and maintaining post-harvest quality. Of course, each farm will have unique circumstances and need different pieces of equipment. The idea here is think about the way to use a space to your best advantage. A facility should be set up to wash and move produce efficiently while getting the job done effectively. Whether you are adapting a currently existing space or starting from scratch, you can use this document to plan as close to the ideal situation as possible. You can customize to your specific situation, budget and needs.
The "Ideal" Wash and Pack Facility Layout (pdf; 485KB)

Upcoming Events
Fungi, Forage & Forest
June 12, 2026 : Friday Evening
Buckets, Beds & Totems
Explore mushroom cultivation techniques featuring oyster mushrooms, wine caps, and lion's mane mushrooms.
June 13, 2026 : Saturday Full-Day
Wild Edibles
Learn about edible plants and responsible foraging practices focused on plants only (no wild mushroom foraging).
Agroforestry Talk
Discover how agroforestry systems can support farm diversification and sustainable land management.
Shiitake Inoculation (hands-on workshop at Heartland Organics)
Participate in a hands-on shiitake inoculation workshop and learn the basics of log-grown mushroom production.
2026 Muck Onion Growers Twilight Meeting in Oswego
June 18, 2026
Oswego, NY
Open to all Onion Enthusiasts, the Muck Onion Growers Twilight Meeting will include an onion disease research update from 2025, new fungicide recommendations for 2026, an onion maggot seed treatment update, herbicide demonstration tour, and more. This educational event is immediately followed by a catered dinner; both are FREE thanks to generous sponsors!
2.25 DEC recertification credits available in categories 1a, 10 and 23. CCA credits will be offered too.