Supply chain handling systems for premium potatoes
Report published by Hort Innovation. This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. The content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.
This 2005 study involved a survey of packers, supply chain monitoring and storage trials. Storage and transport temperatures ranged from 4C to ambient, with washed potatoes more likely to be cooled that brushed or dirty potatoes.
Although 4C resulted in fresher appearance, condensation after transfer to ambient, particularly if combined with unventilated plastic packaging, increased the likelihood of rots. Stock rotation was identified as a key issue at retail, with breakdown the most frequent problem reported to packing sheds. If transparent packaging was used, green tinted plastic reduced greening compared to other colours.