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market-farming - RE: [Market-farming] Packaging

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  • From: "Karen Sutherland" <ksutherland AT hampshire.edu>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [Market-farming] Packaging
  • Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2004 15:33:06 -0400

I have been interested in the general advice towards packaging basil that
has appeared on this list -- i.e., keeping the herbs dry. I have been
selling basil (and other herbs) to the local supermarket for some time now.
I have tried numerous variations, including keeping them dry, but my best
results are when I pick as early as possible in the morning, gently rinse
the herbs in water, shake/swing them almost dry, put in a large covered
basin to "crisp" for an hour or more, then package in plastic bags without
holes. I deliver within an hour or so of finishing packaging, the
supermarket gets them into its hardly refrigerated produce "cooler" within
the next few hours. The basil keeps perfectly for at least a week and is
still looking very good for at least one more week (although it usually
doesn't remain on the shelves that long).

I also prepare basil this way for customers who will pick up their
pre-ordered produce (email list sent out weekly and orders received by email
or phone) at Saturday open-air market. This basil (and other herbs) though
gets picked late afternoon the night before, goes through same rinsing and
crisping and packaging, then sits without refrigeration overnight and
through AM market heat til customer picks up. I find this too stays in
remarkably good condition.

Arugula, on the other hand, treated the same way starts looking a little
yellowy and not so nice in the supermarket fridge after not quite a week.
Anyone have suggestions for best ways to prepare/package arugula?

Thanks and best wishes,

Karen
Roots Farm
Organic Produce
Fruits, Roots, Vegetables & Herbs
Cockrane, Dominica

-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of adriana
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 8:33 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Packaging

Greens are typically packaged in 3# bags which go in individual boxes they
are typically called "box liners". If you get the Leafy Greens Boxes from
Monte Packaging you can get 5# in them without the leaves getting crushed.
For herbs you should offer a 1# pack and a 4 oz. pack. I like large
ziplocks, 13" x 18" for the 1# package, a 10" x 13" size for 4 oz. packages.
Call Associated Bag for these. Associated Bag will have a food grade
plastic liner which will fit in Monte's Leafy Greens boxes.


> They're talking about five pounds of each per week. What kind of
packaging
> should I use to deliver it to them?

Adriana


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