How Much Does It Cost to Build an Agricultural Vegetable Fresh-Keeping Cold Storage?

For those looking to store a variety of vegetables and agricultural products, the cost of constructing a cold storage facility depends on multiple factors. Generally, the price for a vegetable fresh-keeping cold storage ranges between CNY700 to CNY1,200 per square meter in China.

General Cost of Vegetable Cold Storage

The total investment varies significantly by size:

• 10 m² cold storage: approx. $2,800 – $4,200 USD
• 100 m² cold storage: approx. $16,800 – $19,600 USD
• 500 m² cold storage: approx. $56,000 – $77,000 USD
• 1,000 m² cold storage: approx. $98,000 – $154,000 USD

👉 Note: The larger the cold storage, the lower the average cost per square meter, due to economies of scale.

Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Cold Storage

For businesses that require long-term storage with maximum freshness retention, a controlled atmosphere (CA) cold storage system is a better choice. However, its cost is higher, ranging from $210 – $420 USD per square meter.

CA cold storage allows precise control over oxygen, carbon dioxide, humidity, and temperature levels, which significantly extends the shelf life of vegetables and fruits.

Additional Cost Factors

1. Multi-Zone Design – If the cold storage needs to be divided into multiple functional zones for different vegetables, costs increase. More refrigeration units, additional insulation panels, and extra doors may be required.
2. Different Temperature Requirements – Vegetables do not all require the same temperature:

• • Leafy greens: 0–2℃
  • Tomatoes, eggplants: 10–15℃
  • Root vegetables: 2–4℃
    A multi-temperature cold storage will require more advanced equipment and higher-grade insulation, leading to higher investment.