The following discussion of handling systems for different groups of crops treats each crop as a granular unit, and tries to isolate the post-harvest handling aspect of the market farm operation. However, post-harvest handling fits into the larger context of a harvest-wash-pack system on a given farm, which fits into the still larger context of markets, labor availability, delivery schedules, and personal and professional goals.

Download this project as a PDF.

View photos [PDF] for this project taken by Chris Blanchard of Rock Spring Farms.

Speed and Capacity

The speed of any function that requires a human operator is very person-dependent. This person-dependency can be mitigated by mechanization, but, in the end, the speed at which the operator feeds in the product and removes the product at the other end ultimately drives the efficiency of an operation. The fastest worker using a manual system will likely get more done than the slowest worker using a mechanized system.

Likewise, not all improvements to post-harvest handling systems make operations go faster on a per-person basis. Some improvements increase the number of people who can engage a job, thereby increasing capacity while not increasing per-person efficiency by allowing for more product to flow through an existing system.

Product Form and Fit

When making choices about adding new products to a system with any degree of mechanization, a producer should consider how well the form of the product will fit with the machinery and tools already present, in addition to the market that exists. A grower utilizing a barrel washer to wash carrots may find increased efficiencies when she adds bulk beets, but bunched beets would require an entirely new system of handling.

This information is part of a Post-harvest Handling Decision Tool developed by Chris Blanchard of Rock Spring Farm in Decorah, Iowa. The tool is a project of the Fruit and Vegetable Working Group affiliated with the Value Chain Partnerships program. This project was funded by the Iowa State University Extension Value Added Agriculture program and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Blanchard conducted case studies of three vegetable operations to gather information for this decision tool. Products referred to in this tool are not an endorsement by Iowa State University.