How do I judge a market garden’s wash-pack station and cooler?
Watch a real wash-and-pack day and see how produce moves from the field to the cooler. Check the layout, drainage, surfaces and cleaning routine, then test the cooler’s temperature holding, door seals and compressor condition. Ask for service records and what the seller would upgrade first.
The best test is a busy harvest morning. See how the crew moves crops through washing, sorting, packing and cooling, and where things pile up. Look at the layout: is there room for the volume, a clean separation between dirty and clean tasks, and floors that drain? Check the sinks, tubs, tables and tools for wear, and ask how everything is cleaned.
For the cooler, look at the box itself first: insulation, seals, floor and doors. Check the thermometer, listen to the compressor and ask when it was last serviced. Ask how the seller handles a failure in peak season and whether there is a backup plan. Ask what the cooler can really hold at once, since capacity limits sales.
Ask for records: service invoices, repair notes and any cleaning logs. Ask which parts the seller would replace soon and what they expect it to cost. If you are planning a change in volume, ask a refrigeration technician to look at the cooler with you. Your lawyer or accountant can confirm which items are owned and which are leased. Ask also how water is supplied and drained at the station, and how the crew handles wash water on a busy morning.
Key takeaways
- Watch a busy harvest morning and note where produce piles up.
- Check cooler seals, floor and compressor, and ask for service records.
- Ask what happens if the cooler fails in peak season.
Related reading
13 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- Expert answerHow can I judge how a sod farm’s sales follow the building season?
- Expert answerHow do I judge a garden centre’s plant loss and shrink from heat or frost?
- Expert answerHow can I tell if a pack-and-ship store is profitable before I buy it?
- Expert answerShould I buy an independent pack-and-ship store or a franchise?
- Expert answerWhat should I ask about a butcher shop’s freezer-pack and bulk-order customers?
- Expert answerHow do I judge a pharmacy’s blister-pack and medication review service?
Due diligence
- Expert answerWhat should I look at in a pet store’s dog wash or grooming add-on station?
- Expert answerHow do I check a flower shop’s cooler temperatures and maintenance records?
- Expert answerWhat should I check about the coolers and freezers in a convenience store?
- Expert answerWhat should I check about the ownership of coolers placed at customers' offices?
- Expert answerWhy check a butcher shop’s walk-in cooler temperature logs before buying?
- Expert answerHow do I check what share of a farm market’s goods are grown on site?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.