FTF Volunteer Shares Post - Harvest Techniques for Fruits and Vegetables

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Please see photos of Farmer to Farmer volunteer, Dean Wheeler, while visiting pineapple and bell pepper packing plants in March in the Dominican Republic.
                                                                        

Mr. Wheeler is a seasoned Farmer to Farmer volunteer and has traveled the world donating his time to support farmers and agri-businesses with post-harvest techniques including proper packing, processing, and shipping methods. The packing facilities were extremely pleased and grateful for Mr.Wheeler's visit and have already begun implementing his recommendations. For example, the volunteer recommended that the bell peppers be washed and then dried under a fan system rather than by cloths. The cloths have the potential to carry bacteria from one pepper to the next which could increase the amount of spoilage. One switch, from cloths to fans, will improve quality, decrease spoilage rates and ultimately lead to an increase in sales and profits.

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