Cold Storage Options For Beginning Produce Farmers (October 2013)
Vermont's food systems are experiencing increased localization, value addition, diversification, extension of growing season and increased market demand. Growers are now seeing enhanced value in storing and marketing their produce year-round. Crop storage can be costly and the construction and operation of an efficient and well-designed system is essential to a farm's profitability in winter and early spring markets. Chris Callahan, UVM Extension Ag Engineer will present on biological processes of crops in storage, storage characteristics of various crops, and sizing and design considerations of storage systems. The presentation will include the basics of heating and refrigeration and construction for utility and efficiency (including manufactured boxes, DIY construction, and CoolBots. The webinar is tailored for new and aspiring farmers. Download the Cold Storage Options for Beginning Produce farmers presentation slides.
UVM Extension's Agricultural Engineering Program works to deliver practical, cost-effective, safe and sustainable equipment and infrastructure approaches for Vermont's small-scale farmers and food processors. Agricultural Engineer Chris Callahan maintains the UVM Extension AgEngineering Blog, which provides information on cooling systems, energy, equipment, food safety, heating, and other infrastructure topics. You'll also find an extensive set of links to calculators and other tools to help determine energy requirements and sizing for food coolers, dryers and storage for farm products.
The Massachusetts Farm Energy Program has developed a series of Farm Energy Best Management Practices (BMPs) that explore considerations for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on farms in the Northeast. These documents are organized by sector and based on the experiences of Massachusetts farmers as they make upgrades to farm infrastructure to save energy and money and set up renewable energy systems across the state.
Exploring farm-appropriate alternative energy strategies has been a primary focus of Cedar Circle Farm’s Education Program. Learn from Cedar Circle's experiences with alternative energy production and energy conservation. Among the resources is Cedar Circle's Do It Yourself Energy Audit spreadsheets, which can help you identify equipment and technology that uses energy on the farm.
Maintained by UVM Extension Vegetable and Berry Specialist Vern Grubinger, the Energy Information for Vegetable and Berry Growers webpage provides links to a wide variety of resources and case studies regarding energy use, conservation and production on vegetable farms.