As an agricultural farmer, you must realise the need to keep your farm produce fresh for consumption. Many buyers are choosy when purchasing what to eat, so you must ensure that you offer quality groceries and grains. To ensure that you keep your farm output fresh, food warehousing is a must. Multiple aspects will guide you when establishing a food warehouse. Go through the considerations below.
The Type of Harvest
If you are mainly producing grains and cereals, then you will need a dry warehouse to store the products. Cereals need dry surfaces so that they do not rot or go bad. Ensure that the floor of the warehouse is made of a material that is moisture free. If you deal with perishables, you must have a cold room or refrigerators in the warehouse. This ensures that the harvest remains fresh for a prolonged time. The size of the cold room will depend on the amount of crop and the rate at which clients buy the produce.
Ensure That Ventilation Is Sufficient
Air circulation is a necessary element when building the storage house. The warehouse needs to have constant air flow so that rooms do not become filthy. Mould may develop if there are no provisions for ventilation. Ensure that there are enough windows and vents that allow air to get in and out of the building. If necessary, you can install fans to boost the circulation of air in the warehouse. If there are different rooms for storage, ensure that there are enough windows and that the windows are sizeable.
Keep Pests Away
Pests and other insects can damage your harvest and result in losses. You can spray pesticides and other chemicals that will keep harmful bugs away from the storage house. You must know the effective insecticides to use and where they are applicable. You must also ensure that grains are well dried before taking them inside the warehouse. This will prevent insects like weevils from invading the warehouse. Install the warehouse on raised ground so that destructive animals like rats cannot access it.
Use Space Creatively
Do not store items haphazardly but have some order of storing foodstuffs in the warehouse. For instance, perishables must be placed together inside the cold rooms while cereals should be placed in a dry area. Do not use walkaways for storage and ensure that items can be moved freely in the warehouse.
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