AN ASSESSMENT OF THE LONG TERM STORAGE METHODS FOR BEETROOT

Trials were conducted over 3 seasons in which wastage during storage, post-storage quality and storage running costs were compared in June after 7 months storage. The storage methods included: protection of the field crops in situ, field clamp storage, unrefrigerated loose bulk force-ventilated storage at several rates of airflow and refrigerated storage. Only beetroot from the force-ventilated stores and the refrigerated store processed satisfactorily in June. The loose bulk store force-ventilated at 120m³h^-1m^-3 produced no more wastage, was far cheaper to run, had a lower capital cost and produced roots of the same high quality in June as the refrigerated store and therefore presented an economically attractive storage system. This was confirmed in a commercial trial at a grower's premises.