What should I ask about a vegetable farm’s washing and cold storage?

Begin with the wash area. Ask where the water comes from, how it is tested, and who tests it. Look at the drains, the tables, the bins and the floor. A wash line that is tidy on a quiet day tells you little, so ask to see it during a busy harvest morning if the timing allows.

Then move to cold storage. Ask how many coolers there are, what each holds, how old the units are, and what has broken in recent seasons. Ask for repair invoices, a temperature log if one is kept, and the plan for a power outage. A single failed cooler in peak season can cost a week of sales.

Finally, ask how the buyer’s own routines would fit. Does the space suit the crops you plan to grow? Is any equipment shared with the house or leased? Bring a refrigeration technician for a look, and ask your accountant how the equipment appears on the books. If the seller plans to keep any equipment, ask which pieces and why. Gaps in the cold chain tend to show up as spoiled produce and unhappy customers.

Key takeaways

• Ask where wash water comes from, how it is checked and who checks it.
• Request cooler service records, repair invoices and any temperature logs.
• Watch the wash line in use, not just on a quiet day.
• Ask which wash and cooling equipment stays and which leaves with the seller.