Michigan Potato Industry Experimental Storage 1999/2000

1
Michigan Potato IndustryExperimental Storage
1999/2000

• Roger Brook
• Professor Extension Engineer
• Agricultural Engineering Dept.
• Michigan State University

2
Project Goal

• To demonstrate potato storage techniques
  necessary for
• extending the stored life of Michigan grown
  potatoes
• increasing the marketability of Michigan grown
  storage potatoes

3
MPIC Storage Committee

• Brian Sackett, chairperson
• Steve Crooks
• Greg Perkins
• Tim Young
• Gary Walthers
• Todd Forbush, Techmark
• Roger Brook, MSU Extension

4
Background

• After 12 years of continued success in storage
  demonstration, it was determined a permanent
  facility was needed
• MPIC storage committee developed a permanent
  storage facility to implement new storage
  technology and techniques

FOR MORE INFO...

• Contact a member of the MPIC storage committee or
  the MPIC office staff

5
Technology

• New technology being used
• refrigeration
• reverse airflow
• Standards being adopted
• Fancom controllers
• humicells

6
Procedures 1999-2000

• Snowden potatoes
• Three planting dates
• Three storage temperatures
• Bi-weekly quality sampling
• Marketing through cooperating potato chip company

7
Three Planting Dates
8
(No Transcript)
9
Three Planting Dates
10
Three Planting Dates
11
Three Planting Dates
12
Three Storage Temperatures
13
(No Transcript)
14
Three Storage Temperatures
15
Conclusions

• The Michigan potato industry has a new tool for
  improving storage management
• Tuber maturity at harvest may be a key factor
  that we havent previously considered or
  measured
• Refrigeration management will be important for
  June delivery