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Freezing to extend the season. FROZEN. The Western MA Food Processing Center Complete Solutions for Food Entrepreneurs. The FPC offers training and facilities for entrepreneurs who want to create their own product, and co-pack options for those who want the FPC to do the processing for them.
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Freezing to extend the season FROZEN Farm to School 2014 Frozen
The Western MA Food Processing CenterComplete Solutions for Food Entrepreneurs The FPC offers training and facilities for entrepreneurs who want to create their own product, and co-pack options for those who want the FPC to do the processing for them. Processes raw ingredients from local farms to create value-added products. National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Processing Equipment National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
200 gallons of tomatoes boiling in kettles Production Manager cooking apple sauce National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Freezing Process • Growers • Inspection • Washing • Dicing/slicing • Blanching • Shocking / Drying • Freezing (Blast, IQF) • Packing (Vacuum sealed, boxed) • Storage - cooler/freezer/dry capacity • Distribution • Eaters National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Our Farms and Farmers Joe Czajkowski’s carrot fields National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
J.J. Zgrodnik’s Broccoli fields National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Non binding, Working agreement with Farmers National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Broccoli delivered to FPC in re-usable containers.500 lbs each How can farmers get in to us? • Quality • Quantity • Delivery method • Timing • Size, shape, color Tomatoes in back of truck National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
It’s all about efficiency • Processing Equipment • Storage space • Operating Procedures • HACCP • Management, Staff • Facility • Maintenance & Repairs Cut and de-seeded peppers Steaming 80 lbs of carrots Vacuum sealing 2 - 5 lbs bags of peppers Speed rack for quick freezing National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
How schools/institutions want it? • Size, Weight, Shape, • Delivery method 5lbs bags of broccoli, 4 bags to a case 20 lbs boxes of frozen produce in freezer National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
How do Schools use it? Today’s Locally Grown Menu Item Vegetable Frittata With Locally Grown Broccoli Czajkowski Farm, Hadley, MA Notice to Students Notice to Dining Service Staff Label on box National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
More Efficient Equipment National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Expanded Cold Storage Space National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen
Thank you!and Eat Well! Contact information: Franklin County CDC Western MA Food Processing Center www.fccdc.org (413) 774-7204, ext. 102 National Food Hub Conference 2014 Frozen