Refrigeration Systems built this model KJL3000 for an Ontario, Canada farm, which grows asparagus and cucumbers. Asparagus cooling requires aggressive temperature drops, which can be accomplished with a tunnel-cooling setup.

The "COLD ROOM" is 60 feet x 40 feet x 18 feet high. The System may appear large in the room, but this level of cooling capacity is necessary for the rapid cooling process. Refrigeration Systems designed this facility to take the asparagus from a field temperature of approximately 80 degrees F down to 36 degrees F in 90 to 120 minutes. As well, the room is equipped with a humidification system to maintain 98+% humidity, which will minimize any product dehydration.

The room is still under construction. Asparagus will be stacked in bins, in straight lines on either side of the 5 large lower openings. Then the product is covered with a giant tarp, which covers the top and one end of the bins, but leaves the sides open. Large fans will be placed in the square upper wall openings. They blow into the room, so they actually "draw" the cold room air through the bins of asparagus, which provides greater cooling efficiency.

Tunnel-cooling is effective with other "tender fruit" crops, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, green beans, okra, green leeks, etc. This particular installation will have a dual function, where it will be used for cooling cucumbers in the fall season.

The Cold Room is being loaded with bins of asparagus, directly from the field, ready for quick cooling.

The asparagus bins are lined up on both sides of the opening at the end of the room. With the tarp draped over them, the fan above the opening will draw the cold air through the bins, rapidly cooling the asparagus and maintaining product integrity.

The Mister Fog is a simple design utilizing a high pressure water system. The water is pumped through high pressure lines to a series of nozzles located in the area the humidity is required. The misting nozzles can be seen in the third picture.