The University of Minnesota Extension held a hands-on workshop this spring to teach farmers how to build affordable produce coolers, according to a May 4 announcement. The event aimed to help growers maintain the freshness and safety of their vegetables while reducing costs.
Affordable cooling options are important for small-scale farmers who want to keep their produce fresh and safe for customers. Having access to a walk-in cooler can open up new markets, reduce food waste, and give flexibility in harvest timing.
Traditional commercial coolers can cost around $15,000, which is out of reach for many growers. Annalisa Hultberg, Extension educator in on-farm food safety, said, “That price is overwhelming for many farmers.” To address this challenge, the workshop demonstrated how used cooler panels combined with a standard window air conditioner and a device called CoolBot could create an effective cooler at about $1,500. The CoolBot works by allowing the air conditioner to cool below its normal limit.
Ariel Pressman of Whole Farm Strategies co-led the session with Hultberg. “The goal is to do this cheap, but cheap can become expensive if we don’t know what we’re doing,” Pressman said. Participants learned how to select and assemble used panels—sometimes sourced from places like closing restaurants—and fit them together into functional walk-in units. After assembling the unit during the workshop and feeling its 38-degree temperature inside, participants expressed increased confidence in tackling such projects themselves.
Xor McCray of Sun Kissed Farm said after attending: “I always see [used cooler panels for sale] on Facebook. You have to take it apart. I don’t know how, so I don’t purchase it. Now I know how.” Callin Bosire from Lisaviole Farm added: “Seeing it makes a big difference. Once we see it, it becomes practical… This way of teaching farmers — it’s the best.”
University of Minnesota Extension contributes research-driven strategies that help residents address local issues according to its official website. It is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture as part of the University system according to its official website. The organization focuses on evidence-based approaches and hands-on learning involving community members according to its official website. Its services extend statewide through local offices in every county according to its official website.
Looking ahead, those interested in similar workshops or resources are encouraged by organizers to sign up for Fruit and Vegetable News from University of Minnesota Extension.
