The box as a container for potatoes

Summary

The use of boxes as a container for the handling and storage of the Katahdin variety of potatoes has been compared with the conventional method of barrel handling and bulk storage.

There was a higher shrinkage rate in the boxed potatoes than in the bulk-stored potatoes. This was probably due to incomplete suberization of the injured areas resulting from too rapid cooling during the curing period.

The box-stored potatoes cooled more rapidly and maintained lower temperatures than bulk stored potatoes in corresponding portions of the bin.

The box-stored potatoes yielded a slightly higher percentage of U. S. No. 1's than did the bulk-stored. The difference between box and bulk stored was slightly greater when the potatoes were washed rather than unwashed.

At the conclusion of the storage period there were no significant differences in the extent of mechanical injuries resulting from the two handling methods. During the storage period the percentage of tubers on which minor injuries could be detected increased more than three times.

At the conclusion of the storage period the boxed potatoes possessed a somewhat brighter, cleaner appearance than the bulk stored.

The hand stacking of boxes requires an excessive amount of labor which might be reduced by handling boxes with a fork lift truck.