Best way to pack wet baby kelp for same day harvest/home delivery?
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Question from Rhode Island: Is there any guidance for how best to store/pack raw/wet baby kelp for same day harvest/home delivery? I'm doing a very limited number of RI-only pre-orders for baby kelp in the month of March and was hoping there might be suggestions for how best to deliver (i.e. type of box, icing/cold packs, etc.)
GreenWave Answer: We don't have specific packaging recommendations, but I do know that several folks who sell fresh at farmers markets use wax-lined deli boxes like these:
The kelp should be kept "fluffy" (not packed down), and moist but not sitting in water or directly touching ice. Because of the potential for shellfish contamination, your kelp should be held below 40 degrees, but preferably above freezing. Either ice or cold packs should be able to accomplish that, but you should invest in a good thermometer (or even better, a thermometer with data logger / alert settings) to be sure.
@grace_collery - In CT I operate under a HACCP plan which also requires that I keep a thermometer in my cooler to ensure it's staying the right temperature. I also always label the containers with the harvest date. Keeping it cold and getting it to where it needs to go ASAP with some instruction on how to handle the kelp (IE instructions for blanching, drying, and any allergen information) is a best practice I like to follow.
@suzie_flores - Thanks for sharing about your process! Great tips about labeling with dates and providing instructions.
@suzie_flores - Thanks for sharing about your process! Great tips about labeling with dates and providing instructions.