Poultry Processing Container Offers Refrigeration

Poultry Processing Container Offers Refrigeration LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous David Schafer’s new Freeze/Chill Box for processed poultry has come a long way from the $5 poultry plucker he shared with FARM SHOW readers 25 years ago Vol 20 Issue 1 The latest innovation is ideal for producers who raise and direct sell 10 000 or more birds a year Built by a Missouri neighbor starting with good-condition one-time-use shipping containers the cold storage areas are a recent addition to Schafer’s Plant in a Box “It’s a turnkey solution that customers appreciate because it meets USDA inspection requirements ” says Schafer The 40-ft containers include his Featherman Equipment that allows producers to kill scald pluck eviscerate and chill up to 200 birds/hour He has offered Plant in a Box since 2012 with a chill tank Last year he added the Freeze/Chill Box option that ranges from -5F to 55F “A dedicated chilling facility or room is more efficient than water chilling ” Schafer says Customers decide how much space in the trailer is used for the room - usually it’s 10 or 12 ft by 7 ft which is enough to hold up to 1 000 processed birds The cost of the Plant in a Box with the freeze/chill box is $120 000 Without the freeze/chill box prices start at $95 000 “It’s plug and play so you are up and running in a couple of weeks It’s cheaper than building and it’s a temporary structure so you are not taxed ” Schafer says Plus the container can be sold and moved to another location Demand for birds increased dramatically in 2020 and Schafer anticipates growing interest in Plant in a Box with the help of COVID funds for businesses He adds that customers can use them for commercial kitchens also The poultry equipment can be removed and stoves or other equipment brought in to make everything from bone broth to banana bread Contact: FARM SHOW Followup David Schafer Plant in a Box LLC Jamesport Mo ph 660 973-4040; www plantinabox com; david@plantinabox com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.