O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., is trying a new way to store potatoes.
“We’re storing some potatoes in large crates, rather than bulk in the bins,” says Dave Moquist, an owner of the company. “We hope that will cut down on shrink issues, especially pressure bruising.”
The company will focus on yellow potatoes for the test, but a few red potatoes might be included to see how the process works for them versus storing in bulk.
The potatoes will be stored in 4,000-pound crates stacked up in bins where potatoes typically are stored loose. If all goes according to plan, the tubers will remain in good condition throughout the long-term storage cycle.
Moquist says he likely will use the traditional loose storage method until around February, then switch to the new system.
“That may be ideal,” he says. “We don’t have any experience yet, so we’re not sure exactly how it’s going to work.”
The company ships potatoes from October until early May.
