ageng@uvm.edu
(802) 447-7582 x256
310 Main St, PO Box 559
Bennington, VT 05201-0559
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Our Mission: To conduct research, education, and outreach dedicated to enhancing our food systems with a focus on infrastructure, technology, and equipment that meet the needs of producers and processors.
Our Work Areas
Post Harvest
Handling of crops after harvest including washing, packing, curing, drying, storage, and produce safety.
View Post Harvest Resources
Protected Culture
Growing in areas protected from the environment such as high tunnels, greenhouses, and indoor growing.
View Protected Culture Resources
Sustainable Agriculture
Farm-based energy sources and practices supporting agriculture for today and tomorrow.
View Sustainable Agriculture Resources
Tools and Information
Calculators & Tools
- Bean Counter – A Simple Counting App
- Crop Storage Planning Tool in Excel
- Heating and Cooling Load Calculator for Produce Coolers and Warm Rooms
- High Tunnel and Greenhouse Heating and Cooling Calculator
- Hops Moisture Calculator
- Pump and Pipe Pressure Excel Calculator
- PsychroCalc Excel Add-in
- Sanitizer Dose Calculator
- Wall Thermal Calculator
Events (Workshops, Webinar’s & Presentations)
The SCRUB Project is a multi-state team creating and sharing educational resources to improve produce safety and efficiency on your farm.
Recent Posts
- The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm
Elizabeth Keen and her husband Al have been farming at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington, MA for over 25 years. After taking a sabbatical in 2016, they had the realization that after 10-15 years “just running the farm” it was time that some things needed to change to make the farm more sustainable in …Continue reading “The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm “
- Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces
Key Points An unscented, dye-free dish detergent is generally appropriate for food contact surface cleaning. Use just enough to see suds and get the surface visually clean; you know what clean looks like. Rinse off detergents unless the instructions say otherwise. Not sure about a product? Contact the manufacturer. Related posts: Repairing Cracks and Pitting …Continue reading “Detergents for Farm Food Contact Surfaces”
- “Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents
Key points: Introducing water to a produce line or other food contact surface that is generally dry can introduce new hazards. Not all cleaning needs to include water. Handling and packing areas that are generally dry, may benefit from “dry” cleaning. Brushes, brooms, & vacuums may be used to complete necessary cleaning. Waterless cleaning products …Continue reading ““Dry Cleaning” on Produce Farms: Alternatives to Using Water & Detergents”
- Farmer’s Favorites: Cleaning Tools
As part of our SCRUB Project, we have been demonstrating a wide range of Cleaning Tools for Produce Farms, on-farm with growers. This has opened up the question, “Which one(s) should I buy for this specific cleaning task?” Based on our experience and feedback from partner farms, here are some of our favorites that we’d … - Exclusion Netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)
If you grow berry crops you’ve most likely heard of spotted wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii). This invasive pest has caused significant crop losses in the region since at least 2011. While there are chemical pesticides with varied efficacy, one practice that we’ve focused on is physical exclusion with netting. Pioneered in the region by …Continue reading “Exclusion Netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)”
- Patient Pursuit of Packshed Happiness at Ananda Gardens
Patrick Sullivan and Melisa Oliva have been farming for 5 years at Ananda Gardens, a CSA Farm in Middlesex, Vermont. They have been working to grow their farm and improve their wash-pack area as they renovated the 1950s dairy barn that stood on the property. They have 150 CSA members between the fall and spring …Continue reading “Patient Pursuit of Packshed Happiness at Ananda Gardens”