We have discovered a lot of farms are ramping up, renovating, or improving their post-harvest areas for a number of reasons. Some want to make it easier to clean to improve produce safety, others have outgrown their current set-up, and some are looking just to make their workspace a more enjoyable place to work. Every farm grows different crops, sells to different markets, and has different budgets to work from. Rather than trying to summarize all information at once, we have chosen to capture the entire picture for a variety of farms that are willing to share the details, what works, and what they wish they had done differently. Below are post-harvest case studies filled with pictures, examples, findings, and video interviews showcasing the different scenarios taken to improve their washing and packing space.

Small Axe Farm

Acres in Production: 1
New construction, special use farm building
Includes wash/pack space, microgreens growing area and a farm shop
Build Cost: $100,000

Read: Sharpening the Edges: Wash/Pack Efficiencies in a New Farm Building at Small Axe Farm

Watch the YouTube Playlist

Ananda Gardens

Acres in Production: 1.5
Renovated old dairy barn
Phased Construction Timeline
Combination of new & Recycled materials

Read: Patient Pursuit of Packshed Happiness at Ananda Gardens

Watch: YouTube Playlist

Wild Work Farm

Acres in Production: 1.5
Leased Land
140 member CSA, Farmers Market & Wholesale
$100,000 Build cost
Outfitted Shipping Container & Pavilion Project

Read: Planning Tames the Postharvest Beast at Wild Work Farm

Watch: Interview with Lissa

Virtual Tour: 360 Experience

Flywheel Farm

Acres in Production: 2
Leased land
$10,000 DIY 8’x30′ Wooden structure
8’x8′ Wash/pack with 5’x7′ Cooler

Read: A Three-Season Structure Keeps the Momentum at Flywheel Farm

Watch: Building a small-scale open packshed on leased land

Footprint Farm

Acres in production: 2.5
New construction of a BarnHouse
Featuring wash and pack space, walk-in cooler, workshop, and residential living space
Build Cost: $300,000

Read: The BarnHouse: Optimized for Modern Day Vegetable Farming at Footprint Farm

Watch: YouTube Playlist

Stout Oak Farm

Acres in production 5
3 Season 20’x40′ Pavilion
Concrete floor with trench drain, metal roof supported by steel trusses
Open floor plan for flexible workspace
Field office with wind break walls
Build cost: $40,000

Read: Easy Breezy Three Season Packshed at Stout Oak Farm

Watch: Interview and Visit Videos

Indian Line Farm

Acres in production 5
Renovated old dairy barn
Upgrades included replacing the concrete floor, raising the ceiling, installing a wash/pack area, bathroom, cooler, and improving the CSA distribution space.
Build Cost: $260,000

Read: The Next Chapter: Renovating a Barn to Sustain Indian Line Farm

Watch: Farm Visit Video

New Leaf Organics

Acres in production: 5.5
Renovated old dairy Barn
Includes space for indoor vegetable washing, two walk in coolers, space to arrange cut flowers, store materials, and includes commercial catering kitchen
Build Cost: $90,000

Read: Giving a Dairy Barn New Life at New Leaf Organics

Watch the YouTube Playlist

High Meadows Farm

Acres in production: 7
Renovated old dairy barn
Polycarbonate solarium for natural light
Smoothed out concrete floors

Read: Natural Light in the Packshed at High Meadows Farm

Watch: Produce Packshed Design for Safety & Efficiency: High Meadows Farm

Root 5 Farm

Acres in production: 8
Renovated/expanded existing pole barn
Built to meet food processing requirements for value added production
Build Cost: $40,000

Read: Wheels Keep Things Rolling at Root 5 Farm

Watch: YouTube Playlist

Last Resort Farm

Acres in production: 10
Renovated old dairy barn
Includes 5 remotely monitored cold storage rooms
Build Cost: $60,000

Read: Last Resort Farm Not Stalled by Dairy Barn Conversion

Watch: YouTube Playlist

Mighty Food Farm

Acres in production: 14
New construction of a packing shed
Features dedicated wash and pack space, two walk-in coolers, CSA room and employee break area

Read: Mighty Clean and Comfortable – A New Wash and Pack Shed at Mighty Food Farm

Watch: YouTube Playlist