AN EFFICIENT GREENS SPINNER FOR IMPROVING FOOD SAFETY AND INCREASING PROFITABILITY FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZE FARMS

The goal of this Phase II effort is to commercialize a mid-capacity, electric greens spinner for farms to improve handling, food safety, efficiency, increase output, and potentially expand operations to satisfy increasing consumer demand for local greens.Technical Objective #1: Create a beta I prototype (beta I) for testing and on-farm trials.This project will build on the alpha prototype variations fabricated during Phase I. Johnny's will create a beta I prototype for product development testing and on-farm trials that will inform product design for Technical Objective #3.Technical Objective #2: Complete a life cycle analysis (LCA) for a mid-capacity, electric, greens spinner.The completed preliminary logistics and value chain assessments in Phase I were used to inform the alpha prototype design and prepare Phase II research objectives. The team will further this work by completing a LCA for commercialization. The LCA will inform the team of product cost and user behaviors to prepare for successful Phase III commercialization.Technical Objective #3: Create a beta prototype II (beta II) for regulatory certification and commercialization.We will execute design modifications for the greens spinner using Phase I outcomes and work accomplished in Technical Objectives 1 and 2.