| Mobile Freezing Gives Farmers Bigger Piece of Pie |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Saturday, 16 August 2008 | |
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One of the barriers to the success of small farmers is a lack of processing equipment on or nearby the farm. Take a raspberry or strawberry producer. These harvests need to be sold or processed almost immediately because they're so perishable. And they can only harvest as much as they can store in refrigerators. For small-scale producers who might not grow under contract or have the refrigeration space to store much of their harvest, a processing unit that allows them to quick-freeze crops provides another marketing opportunity. And now Vermont producers have access to just that. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is testing out a mobile freezing unit that allows farmers to provide more of their food throughout the year. USDA and the Vermont Department of Tourism funded the unit. Farmers can use it for free this year (they just have to provide the labor and a power source), but a private operator will probably take the reins starting next year. While other states already have mobile processing units for poultry and other meats, this mobile freezing trailer is the first of its kind in the U.S. It can freeze berries and produce at a rate of 600 pounds a minute. The opportunities for farmers are huge. Many farmers don't have access to this technology or have the refrigeration space to store as much of their harvest as they'd like. And, since a lot of extra berries and vegetables (that are perfectly edible) end up as livestock feed or waste, access to this processing unit means less waste on the farm. For consumers this means more local food year round. What spurred such a cool idea? The demand for more frozen Vermont berries. For example, a pie company, Vermont Mystic Pie, wanted state-grown berries that held their shape when frozen. The mobile unit's quick freeze technology does just this, which will allow the company to expand its product line and provide more and different local berries in its pies. Since farmers will be able to take advantage of new marketing opportunities, they'll enjoy a bigger piece of the pie, too. Source: Boston Globe
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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