Packsheds are a critical piece of infrastructure on the farm. They provide a safe and convenient space for washing, cooling, packing and grading produce on vegetable farms.
- Packsheds provide a central space for storing harvest supplies like knives, rubber bands, produce bins and wax boxes.
- Shade and washable equipment allows farmers to clean and pack vegetables in a food safe manner. This leads to better quality and longer lasting produce, which increases farm profitability.
- Packsheds also increase the efficiency of the washing and packing process.
This guide focuses on packshed designs that do not involve permanent buildings or infrastructure (e.g. pouring a concrete floor). The goal is to help farmers build a packshed that is efficient and food safe as well as affordable.
These designs may be especially useful for farmers on rented land, who lack the ability or reason to invest in permanent infrastructure.
Supply list for low-cost packshed
Structure
The packshed structure can be anything that provides cover.
All packsheds should be as enclosed as much as possible to provide shade to workers and create a controlled environment less likely to be contaminated by animals. Packing produce under a tree may provide shade, but creates a food safety risk, as trees are a gathering place for birds and other animals.
Two of the most common, non-permanent structures used by farmers are market tents and carports.
The least expensive non-permanent packshed structure is a market tent.
Ensure tents are built to resist weather
Market tents have the benefit of being easy to install and relatively low-cost. However, the lower- cost tents are not built to resist wind and rain throughout the growing season.
Try to find the highest-quality tent that you can find. This will ensure that the tent does not need to be replaced each year.
This tent is from All Tents and costs approximately $600. This tent is made from heavy-duty steel and will not bend in the wind. The canopy is made of high-quality canvas.
Anchoring the tent
If you plan to leave your tent up all season, it is extremely important to stake or secure your tent to the ground so that it does not fly away in the wind. Some people use sandbags; others use long metal stakes to anchor the tent to the ground. Each tent might have a different staking system.
These structures are large, commonly 10 feet by 20 feet, stable and relatively easy to construct and repair.
Carports with steel roofs and temporary garages make excellent packshed structures. However, these structures cost more and require a higher level of construction knowledge. Carports with fabric covering are the recommended semi-permanent structure.
If you’re considering a carport structure, keep in mind the following:
- Size: Carports are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ensure the carport you choose can accommodate all of the equipment you plan to keep in your packshed while providing plenty of room for farm staff to maneuver.
- Snow: If you plan to leave the carport up over winter, be sure it is rated to withstand significant snow load. Otherwise, plan to dismantle the structure for the winter and then rebuild it in the spring.
- Wind: If you’re in a windy area make sure the carport has proper wind bracing and/or ground stakes. These items are meant to make your structure more sturdy, and are often sold as accessories.
Flooring
Building a floor limits the amount of dirt and mud entering your wash and pack area. Floors also provide a stable area to place tables, shelves and equipment.
There are many different ways to build a non-permanent floor for a packshed. No matter what option you choose, start by laying down a thick, commercial-grade landscaping fabric. This will prevent weeds from growing and prevent dirt and mud from entering the area.
Use a water-permeable landscaping fabric when possible. This allows excess water to permeate into the ground instead of pooling on the floor.
One common way to build a floor for a non-permanent packshed is to use plastic pallets. Be sure to use reinforced plastic pallets with a solid top. Other types of pallets break easily under the weight of human feet.
Reinforced plastic pallets with solid tops are expensive when purchased new, but there are many options available from used-pallet dealers like Pallet1, or on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
Pallets come in many shapes and sizes, but most are 48 by 48 inches or 48 by 40 inches. Plan to spend $10 to $20 for a good-quality, used plastic pallet.
Another common way to build a floor in a non-permanent packshed is to lay a thick layer of gravel or stone over your landscape fabric. Water easily drains through the gravel or stone, keeping the wash and pack area relatively dry and free of soil and dirt.
Important considerations
A few other considerations for your packshed design:
Water
You will need to move water from its source to your packshed. Investing in high-quality garden hoses (we recommend ¾ inch diameter) makes your packshed much more functional. Also, plan to purchase on/off water switches and spray nozzles from a high-quality company like Dramm.
Electricity
Mechanized postharvest equipment and items like lights or fans require electricity. Figure out how much electricity your packshed equipment requires to function, and make sure you have a plan for moving sufficient amounts of electricity to your packshed.
Non-mechanized postharvest equipment
Spray tables and wash basins are the most basic and essential infrastructure to include in your packshed design.
Spray tables can be easily built using a variety of designs and materials. They consist of a frame built from wood or metal, and a top with gaps that allow dirty water to run off the table as the produce is sprayed. Spray tables are the most effective option for cleaning bunched crops.
Tops can be made of a purchased greenhouse bench top rigid plastic, or from metal screening.
Whatever spray table you build should be strong enough to hold the produce you will place on it and large enough to spray a good amount of produce at one time. It should also be cleanable.
Wash basins provide an easy way to wash and hydrocool produce. They can be made out of a variety of food-safe (cleanable) materials, and they come in a variety of sizes.
When considering the right type and size of wash basin for your packshed, keep the following in mind:
- New, heavy-duty stock tanks made of structural foam are a cost effective option.
- Avoid wash basins made of thin or flexible materials as they break or bend easily.
- Do not use metal wash basins, unless they are made of stainless steel.
- When small wash basins are suitable, many farmers use stainless steel triple wash sinks, similar to what is found in restaurants.
- When deciding what size wash basins to use in your packshed, remember that the water in wash basins needs to be changed frequently. Think about how long it will take to fill and empty a wash basin with a new batch of water. To estimate the time it will take, divide the capacity of the wash basin by the total gallons per minute of water available in your shed. For example, if your wash basin is 150 gallons and your well provides 5 gallons of water per minute, it will take 30 minutes to fill the basin.
All packsheds must have places to safely store the supplies used to harvest and clean produce (e.g., rubber bands, harvest knives, cleaning supplies). Without shelving, these items can end up on the floor where they become dirty and create a physical hazard.
Wire racks or plastic shelving are popular options for storing supplies. Wire racks used in a packshed should be NSF rated, meaning they are designed to be used in food-safe areas. When choosing a size for your wire rack, note the surface area of the shelves. Make sure they are large enough to store items like produce totes and wax boxes.
All packsheds must contain surfaces used for packing produce into boxes. Packshed tables must be water-resistant, easy to clean, and able to hold a significant amount of weight.
Consider the following common packshed table options:
- Banquet-style folding tables are a simple option. They are easy to clean, can be put up and taken down quickly, and generally support a sufficient amount of weight.
- Stainless steel food prep tables are easy to clean and can be purchased at restaurant auctions.
- Roller tables are especially useful in a packshed, as they allow you to push a box of produce down a pack line instead of lifting and carrying it. Roller tables are expensive new, but are often available for less than $100 per 10 footft section at auctions.
Reviewed in 2026