December 2024 - 16
PROCESSING
to reduce waste and improve the quality of the crop
delivered to the processor.
Previously, sorting was done manually, which was
costly and less efficient. Only two workers are needed to
manage the new harvest equipment.
" We have to be really cognizant of our labor costs,
because labor is our number-one cost, " said Muller.
To improve soil and environmental health, Muller
practices crop rotation, uses compost in place of synthetic
fertilizer where possible, and combines the two when
needed. He also practices integrated pest management
strategies that reduce reliance on pesticides.
" The goal is to leave the farm better off than how we
found it, " Muller said.
Five hours from field to can
From its location Woodland, California, M Three
Ranches is less than 10 miles away from Pacific Coast
Producers' Woodland processing plant. In fact, 96% of
the processor's conventional tomatoes are harvested
within a 17-mile radius.
Harvested tomatoes leave the field still warm
from the sun and go straight to the factory for
processing. From field to can, the entire process takes
approximately five hours.
Tomatoes go through several processes before they
land in the can. First, loads are inspected for defects,
color and character by an independent state grading
system, then rinsed and floated out of the truck. From
there, tomatoes are bathed and sent through a steam
peeling process.
It's at this point where another investment has boosted
the company's sustainability profile.
In 2019, the California Energy Commission awarded
Pacific Coast Producers a $5.7 millionå grant through the
Food Production Investment Program under the state's
climate investment program. The grant was used to
install advanced energy-efficient evaporation technology.
Chris Ward, manager of the Woodland plant where the
technology was installed said the technology has been a
game-changer for the company.
Tomatoes are approximately 95% water and 5% solids
and sugars, he said. Converting tomato juice to paste
requires the evaporation of 80% of the water content.
This is done through the use of a massive evaporator,
which causes heat from steam to evaporate excess water.
Using mechanical vapor recompression technology,
16 | DECEMBER 2024
http://www.mafvc.org
December 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2024
Editor’s Letter
Talking Tech
Investing in your plant health
Watermelon tests
From farm to can
Cucumber powerhouse
Maximizing crop yield, sustainability at the Great Lakes EXPO
Introducing the 40 Under 40 Class of 2024
2025 VGN Buyers Guide
Veg Connections
Farm Market & Agritourism
Ag Labor Review
Business
Industry News
Events
Classifieds
Ad Index
December 2024 - 1
December 2024 - 2
December 2024 - 3
December 2024 - Editor’s Letter
December 2024 - 5
December 2024 - Talking Tech
December 2024 - 7
December 2024 - Investing in your plant health
December 2024 - 9
December 2024 - Watermelon tests
December 2024 - 11
December 2024 - 12
December 2024 - 13
December 2024 - From farm to can
December 2024 - 15
December 2024 - 16
December 2024 - 17
December 2024 - Cucumber powerhouse
December 2024 - 19
December 2024 - 20
December 2024 - 21
December 2024 - 22
December 2024 - 23
December 2024 - Maximizing crop yield, sustainability at the Great Lakes EXPO
December 2024 - 25
December 2024 - 26
December 2024 - Introducing the 40 Under 40 Class of 2024
December 2024 - 28
December 2024 - 29
December 2024 - 30
December 2024 - 31
December 2024 - 32
December 2024 - 33
December 2024 - 34
December 2024 - 2025 VGN Buyers Guide
December 2024 - 36
December 2024 - 37
December 2024 - 38
December 2024 - 39
December 2024 - 40
December 2024 - 41
December 2024 - 42
December 2024 - 43
December 2024 - 44
December 2024 - 45
December 2024 - 46
December 2024 - 47
December 2024 - 48
December 2024 - 49
December 2024 - 50
December 2024 - 51
December 2024 - 52
December 2024 - 53
December 2024 - Veg Connections
December 2024 - 55
December 2024 - Farm Market & Agritourism
December 2024 - 57
December 2024 - Ag Labor Review
December 2024 - 59
December 2024 - Business
December 2024 - 61
December 2024 - Industry News
December 2024 - Events
December 2024 - Classifieds
December 2024 - 65
December 2024 - Ad Index
December 2024 - 67
December 2024 - 68
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