Market Farming

[Roots Farm & Karen Sutherland <rootsfarm AT cwdom.dm>]

Adam, Hi-

Thanks for sharing info. re your washing process.  Could you please send 
a picture of the baskets that you made that you harvest into, dunk then 
spin?

Does anyone else have either home made or store-bought harvest, dunk & 
dry containers for greens that they really like?

To prepare for market, we dunk our greens in big tubs, then dry each 
head by shaking out by hand -- much too time consuming but gives good 
product.  Would love to find a time and water saver that would keep the 
quality up for our approx. $400 greens each week.  We want lettuces to 
be just slightly wet to withstand rigors of market sun and wind; have to 
get chinese cabbages/asian greens drier or they start to rot (especially 
if it has been rainy week before harvest.  Or, sometimes we have to let 
the greens soak slightly to rehydrate, e.g.,  if harvested on dry windy 
day.)   Anyway, done the afternoon/night before market and packed into 
solid sided tubs covered by plastic or into plastic bags, they usually 
arrive at market and stay in good condition for the 5-6 hours.  We have 
to keep sprinkling the exposed greens at market with water if its 
sunny/windy.  We warn our customers that they should make sure greens 
are dry and repackaged into dry plastic bags for longer life. 

Best wishes to all,

Karen

Karen Sutherland

Roots Farm

Organic Produce

Fruits, Roots, Vegetables & Herbs

Cockrane, Dominica

767-449-3038

rootsfarm AT cwdom.dm <mailto:rootsfarm AT marpin.dm>

rootsfarm AT protoscape.com <mailto:rootsfarm AT protoscape.com>









a h wrote:
> I think that is an interesting idea. What is your current process for 
> greens production?
>
> At an aquaculture farm in my area the man used loops of polyethylene 
> pipe (irrigation line essentially) and poked holes in it , used a 
> threaded fitting to an air hose\coimpressor like you were describing 
> and kept it  weighted halfway in the tanks with something.
>
> I just use 2 dunk tanks but i have been looking for input on other 
> methods. I really don't like the amount of water i go through changing 
> the water and was considering making the a trough that skims the top, 
> put 's the water through a sediment filter and reuses it. I have a 
> well so i try and get the most mileage for my water but the cold water 
> really helps with the field heat in the middle of summer.
>
> What do you dry with and package. I had always heard of using a 
> washing machine and last summer i finally found one on the curb and 
> after removing the agitator and safety mechnisms it works wonder. I 
> made baskets that i harvest into, dunk , and then put in the washer 
> for drying. The less i handle it the less bruising i get. But every 
> now and again i notice a slug or bug still around and have always been 
> curious how much larger operations process their greens.
>
> After drying to you use breathable bags or what is your storage medium 
> of choice in the walk in?
>
> I think the air could be a great idea.
>
> adam
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