Philadelphia, PA, USA – A new option is available, for long term storage of root crops including potato and onion.
“It was discovered, almost 10 years ago, that exposing potatoes and onions to low levels of ethylene gas, helped to prevent them from sprouting,” explained Jim Still of Global Cooling Inc., the manufacturer of the sensor and controller package.
“To date, there has only been one competitor that offered a sensor and system to accomplish this type of controlled storage,” he continued. “It is good for everyone and the industry as a whole when there is more than one supplier.”
The core of Global's offering is a patented sensor element, which detects extremely low levels of ethylene gas. It is accurate to 1 part per million of ethylene gas.
“Most reassuringly,” said Still, “our sensor is guaranteed for two years. We have used them in our own ripening rooms for almost three years now, and can say with confidence that they are extremely accurate and reliable.”
The recommended setpoint for ethylene gassing of potatoes is 10 ppm, and for onions is 15 ppm. “Citrus degreening is best done at 5 ppm, and ripening of banana, mango, papaya, avocado, and others is at 20 ppm,” said Still. Gassing costs less when a sensor is used. More importantly, other produce stored in the same facility are protected from “ethylene pollution”.
Global's sensor is paired with a solid-state PLC controller, which comes in a Nema-4 washdown rated enclosure. For installation, the controller is mounted to a wall, the sensor likewise nearby, and the controller is plugged into a power receptacle, either 110 or 220 volt. A Catalytic Generator is then plugged-into a switched power cord coming out of the controller, and the entire works is ready in a snap.
“With only a few minutes of electrical work,” Still continued, “our gassing controller can also manage the supply from cylinders of ethylene or ripe-gas.”
For more information, see www.NE-Postharvest.com. Or email to: Solutions@NE-Postharvest.com More info, contact: Jim Still, President/CVO, Global Cooling Inc. NE-USA Headquarters, 170 Foxcatcher Lane, Media, PA 19063 USA. Phone 1-610-248-9800.
Source: Global Cooling Inc.