The storage of potatoes has come a long way over the past few decades. Remember the old potato houses with cement floors, big wood burning furnaces and poor ventilation? Today tubers are stored in high-tech buildings boasting two-stage ventilation systems, humidifiers, heaters, LED illumination and monitors for humidity and air quality. The modern ways to store potatoes play an important part in securing New Brunswick's and Canada's economy.
At the Potatoes NB Trade Show and Conference held Feb. 3 and 4 at the Eagles Nest at Woodstock First Nation, McCain Foods potato storage specialist John Walsh outlined some of his company's plans during ‘The Future of Potato Storage' presentation. He described many of the innovations that are in use now or soon will be.
The two major goals of any farm or company storing potatoes are protecting the tubers from damage or freezing, but doing so in an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way.
Walsh, who has worked for McCains for about two and a half decades, said he originally considered speaking about the "cool gadgets that will be in use 40 or 50 years down the road - George Jetson type stuff,"but decided on a more practical look at the near future of potato storage.
"I think it's safe to say that over the last 25 years I have seen more evolution than revolution and for the next 25 we will also see gradual change – but nothing that's going to totally revolutionize the storage industry."
