Energy saving tips:
- Select refrigerated cases with doors to save energy, but if an open unit is necessary (such as for lack of sliding door options and lack of space for hinged doors), use energy saving solutions such as night curtains.
- If you are replacing your current refrigeration system/unit with a new system/unit, ensure that the system/unit is properly decommissioned (i.e., no pipes are cut before being pumped down by a technician) and the refrigerant gas is properly recovered and sent for reclamation, recycling, or destruction to ensure that refrigerant gas emissions are not released, which are extremely harmful to the environment.
Tips for selecting a refrigeration system/unit:
- Past grantees recommend choosing a refrigeration unit with bright lighting to draw customers to it (should use LED lights).
- Think of the products you want to stock in the new refrigerated cases and keep their measurements in mind when selecting a unit to ensure the shelves are long/deep enough to fit the products.
- Refrigerated cases with doors are easier for customers to open compared to sliding doors but require an appropriate amount of space for people to pass with the door(s) open.
- Consider the use of a Temperature Monitoring system to be to your refrigeration unit. These systems monitor temperatures at all times and deliver an uninterrupted measurement, automatically logging record data that can be used for food safety reporting and compliance, as well as generate instant alerts if temperatures rise above a given safety threshold.
Tips for refrigeration installation process:
- Determine and plan in advance whether building doors will need to be removed in order to move new equipment in, and ramps and/or specialist equipment may be needed to navigate uneven ground, curbs, doorways, or changes in level or steps and stairs.
- Find out whether unloading and installing new equipment in its place is part of the purchase — and try to use a turnkey solution that includes everything part of the process including recycling the old refrigerator and disposing of the old refrigerant properly.
Suggestions of where to place refrigeration system/unit:
- Place the refrigerated display case next to the cash registers so customers can make last minute purchases while checking out.
- Creating a produce section by placing refrigerated produce next to unrefrigerated produce has helped some stores to feel more like a market rather than a convenience store.
- Place the refrigerated case where customers can not miss it, such as towards the front of their store so it is the first thing customers see when they walk in.
- Decide where to install your refrigerated case based on usual customer foot traffic as well as increasing their access to the refrigerator.
Tips to sell more fruits and vegetables:
- Have the produce displayed nicely in the refrigerated case — for example, place produce in baskets and/or organize it by type of fruit/vegetable.
- Stock one type of fruit/vegetable per refrigerated shelf so it’s easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
- Stocking grab-and-go foods like bananas, apples, pre-made salads, and pre-cut veggies encourages customers to buy produce vs purchasing snacks such as candy and chips.
- The most important characteristics past grantees said their customers look for when purchasing fruits and vegetables are freshness, quality, and affordability.
- Many past grantees said customers appreciated the fact they could help support local farmers by purchasing California-grown produce at their store.
Past grantees recommendations for stocking the refrigerated cases:
- Place fruits and vegetables in the refrigerated display case based on what would go bad the fastest to avoid waste and spoilage.
- Stock items that are in season because they may be cheaper to buy and taste fresher.
- Stock produce that is culturally relevant to the dishes your customers cook.
- When starting out, only stock a small quantity of produce because you can buy more produce as needed rather than stocking too much that doesn’t sell.
- Identify whether the produce you’re buying is California-grown by looking at a sticker or label directly on the item or on the box it’s sent in or by talking directly to your vendor.
Other recommendations from past grantees:
- Create simple shelf tags, posters, and other marketing materials to promote new items and store changes to your customers.
- Teach your customers how to cook with different fruits and vegetables sold in your store and share recipes for the items customers are purchasing.
- Work with other healthy retail initiatives in your area to get assistance updating your store to better display produce and improve the overall atmosphere for customers.
View the full Quick Tips document (English / Spanish ) on equipment selection, installation, and use for more helpful refrigeration and healthy retail tips
Refrigeration appliances may contain materials that can be harmful to human health and the environment if they are not properly removed and recycled. California law requires that major appliances such as refrigeration units and their refrigerants be properly removed and managed.
The basic requirements of proper appliance recycling include the following:
- Materials that Require Special Handling (MRSH) must be removed prior to processing (including crushing and bailing) major appliances for scrap metal (PRC § 42175.1; HSC § 25212)
- A person who intends to remove MRSH must obtain certification from the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) (HSC § 25211.1)
- Certain documentation must accompany discarded appliances to ensure that MRSH are removed by a Certified Appliance Recycler (CAR) (HSC § 25211.3)
View DTSC's Certified Appliance Recycler (CAR) program website here
View DTSC’s list of approved Certified Appliance Recyclers by city here .
