How to build a solar dehydrator for produce

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

Dehydrating produce provides growers with an opportunity to utilize extra produce, and to extend the growing season with value-added products. As part of a project exploring the viability of chile pepper production in MN with Latino farmers, we chose to explore solar dehydrators because many fresh market vegetable farmers have plots in rural areas that are not connected to electricity. We developed a dehydrator that could successfully dehydrate fresh fruits and vegetables, and wrote a guide with instructions. The guide can be accessed here.