Pack 'N Cool mobile chilling unit

Dr. Penny Perkins-Veazie and her team, at the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute have developed a mobile chilling unit, called a Pack 'N Cool,  for farmers in need of a "smaller" trailer to haul produce to markets.

There is a full news release at the site below, with links to a step-by-step instruction on how to build the unit and a detailed budget. For more information click here: http://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/2012/08/17/“pack-‘n-cool”-provides-farmers-with-mobile-refrigeration-solution/

This same unit was used as part of an Extension Agent Training earlier this year. http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/2012/07/post-harvest-agent-training.html

Post Harvest Agent Training

Dr. Penny Perkins-Veazie showing the portable cooler.

In late June 2012, Cooperative Extension Agents from NC, SC, VA, GA, TN and AR participated in a Small Fruit Post Harvest Training, sponsored by the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium (SRSFC). The two day training consisted of classroom lectures, a demonstration of a cool bot cooling system and low cost hand washing station, a post harvest fruit evaluation, monitoring SWD lesson, a tour of research plots and a tour to a local farm. For more information on the training, see an article in the SRSFC newsletter at: http://www.smallfruits.org/Newsletter/Vol12-Issue3.pdf?SID=SV_afVK4jnUVdviVta

This training and others like it, provide agents with tools to help growers improve their berry production practices.