This resource contains information about lots of different supplies and equipment that will help improve your food safety practices on your farm. In particular there are sections on produce harvest and storage, produce washing, cleaning and sanitizing, and your structure (building). This is not an exhaustive list of supplies or equipment, but a good starting point. There are also a few hyperlinks to resources that provide more details and links as well. Keep in mind when adding items to a budget for any project that some of these items or pieces of equipment will require additional costs to get them installed. You may need to hire an electrician or contractor to install a coolbot system, for example.
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Specific note for the current CDFA RFSI opportunity: Equipment-Only Grant (track 2) can be used to purchase one piece of equipment only (along with any necessary accessories, tax, delivery fees, etc.) and has a minimum request of $10,000. Multiple pieces of equipment and/or supplies can be purchased under a Track 1, Infrastructure Grant. Infrastructure Grants do have a minimum requirement of $100,000 and are subject to matching funds requirements.
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Disclaimer: CAFF staff have used or seen some of these products on farms. We have not vetted them all in person. Please do your due diligence in researching products to determine if it makes sense for your operation.Â
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Produce Harvest and Storage
A guide to Bins, Buckets, Baskets and Totes for harvesting and packing. Many options to consider in this guide, including sizes that are appropriate for different products, like tomatoes and carrots. Here are some specific options mentioned during our phone call:
Harvest knives that are stainless steel and plastic for easy sanitizingÂ
Plastic or even wood pallets are great for keeping the harvest and tools elevated off the ground. Uline has many options.
Flags that can be used to mark areas that should not be harvested due to animal intrusion
Coolbot Systems – See that resource for more information.Â
Note: If you pursue this make sure to include money in the budget to cover the costs of installation (may need to be outsourced to a contractor/3rd party).Â
Produce Washing
Washdown Gun from Johnny’s, $92.50, used to as a pressure washer to spray surfaces and root vegetables
Spray Tables for Produce Farms, options for cleanable and sanitizable spray surfaces, including wire rack shelvingÂ
Root Washers for Produce Farms, many options that range from DIY spray tables ($0-$100) to various barrel washers ($100-$30,000)
AZS Rinse conveyor equipment – small scale machine that can wash bunches of carrots, loose crops, and even plastic harvest totes.Â
Greens spinners and dryers – Vermont Extension Resource
1 gallon salad hand crank spinner
2.5 gallon salad hand crank spinner
2.5 gallon electric spinnerÂ
5 gallon hand crank salad spinner
5 gallon hand crank salad spinner
5 gallon hand crank spinner
10 gallon electric spinnerÂ
20 gallon electric stainless steel spinner
20 gallon electric spinner
20 gallon electric spinner
20 gallon stainless steel spinner
Vegetable Wash Sinks, Tanks, Tubs and Basins, lots of ideas for washing sinks and tanks, and handwashing sinks
These rubbermaid stock tanks are popular and could be used for sanitizing reusable crates
Basic utility sinks could be a good option for handwashing stations
Here are instructions on how to build a portable handwashing station
Handwashing stations need:
Running water supply
Hand soap (can be liquid or bar)
A greywater catchment or drain
Single use paper towels or single use cloth towels
Covered trash container
Guidance on Wash Water Discharge from Vegetable Pack Sheds and options for different types of drains, including trench drains available for sale
Cleaning/Sanitizing Supplies
Sanidate 5.0 (requires dilution); we had trouble purchasing this through an online vendor but this source worked fine or maybe you can find a way to procure this locally? $100.95/2.5 gallons
PAA strips to test Sanidate to make sure it’s in the right range
Self-venting spigot for bulk sanitizer containersÂ
Pure Bright Germicidal Ultra Bleach, $14.24/gallon
Free Chlorine sanitizer test strips – needed to check to make sure the active ingredient is in the right concentration to be effectiveÂ
Spray bottles to dispense the sanitizer:
32 oz. handheld spray bottle $3.48 from Lowes
32 oz handheld heavy duty spray bottles two-pack $8.96 from Amazon
64 oz/half gallon handheld spray bottle $18.99 from Amazon
1 gallon pressurized spray bottle $9.98 from Lowes
1 gallon pressurized sprayer $14.98 from Amazon
Different tools you may find useful to measure sanitizer:
Pippets for measuring out a small amount of sanitizer from the sanitizer container it comes in at purchase.Â
Different size measuring spoons
Brushes for cleaning equipment
You can get different color ones for different activities. Red brushes are only to be used in bathroom environments, blue brushes on tractors, white brushes on postharvest equipment, etc.Â
Lots of ideas for cleaning tools and supplies. You can purchase some of these from the Vikan store on Amazon
Two neck Bottle – helpful for measuring small fluid ounce amountsÂ
Nitrile gloves – better than latex gloves because some people may be allergic to latexÂ
3 gallon bucket for holding cleaning and sanitizing liquids
Tote to store various supplies in
Collapsible totes for storing cleaning and sanitizing suppliesÂ
Tools to help train employees about bacteria
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Structure
Covers for lights so no broken glass falls into produce
Floor Design for Vegetable Wash, Pack and Storage Areas can explain the various considerations when constructing a wash/pack station. Namely: water movement, types of floors, and alternatives to concrete
If you are planning on adding sides to the wash/pack station, this guide has suggestions for the types of materials to use as well as price estimates
Planning an Efficient and Safe Wash/Pack Area in writing and the same topics in a Webinar video series
Postharvest Case Studies for more wash/pack examples on farms