This project was initiated in order to reduce waste from student run farms at Purdue University. It is estimated that over half the produce is discarded every season. Our team has come up with a plan to use the otherwise unused vegetables to produce salsa, that can be canned and stored for a longer duration, can be sold on campus stores and retail outlets around Lafayette.
This project will not only minimize waste but also act as a educational project for students in food process engineering, mechanical engineering, biological and chemical engineering,food science, business, finance, accounting and management to name a few disciplines. It would be a good work opportunity and an excellent learning experience for students.
Currently the Purdue Student Farm exists as an educational learning center for students to become more familiar with planting and cultivation techniques. The focus is on learning the process, not necessarily the end crop of vegetables; as a result, the Purdue Student Farm does not have any formal usage for the crops they produce. Though the student managers are able to sell a certain percentage of the farm’s crops at various farmers markets and on Purdue’s campus, much of the produce goes unused and is simply discarded. If a salsa production facility is created, the farm will be able to supply tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It would be a win-win situation; agriculture students will learn how to farm and engineering and business management students will learn to manufacture salsa and market them, all while drastically cutting down on waste at the Farm.
This project will not only minimize waste but also act as a educational project for students in food process engineering, mechanical engineering, biological and chemical engineering,food science, business, finance, accounting and management to name a few disciplines. It would be a good work opportunity and an excellent learning experience for students.
Currently the Purdue Student Farm exists as an educational learning center for students to become more familiar with planting and cultivation techniques. The focus is on learning the process, not necessarily the end crop of vegetables; as a result, the Purdue Student Farm does not have any formal usage for the crops they produce. Though the student managers are able to sell a certain percentage of the farm’s crops at various farmers markets and on Purdue’s campus, much of the produce goes unused and is simply discarded. If a salsa production facility is created, the farm will be able to supply tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It would be a win-win situation; agriculture students will learn how to farm and engineering and business management students will learn to manufacture salsa and market them, all while drastically cutting down on waste at the Farm.