Failing to make standard, everyday checks in potato stores is commonplace at this time of year adding to the annual 400,000 tonnes of avoidable loss from Britain's stores, warns the British Potato Council (BPC).
"Leaky store doors and roofs, store lights left on, boxes stacked incorrectly, poor air circulation and faulty temperature probes are everyday problems that can easily be rectified with a change of approach," explained BPC storage advisor Adrian Cunnington.
To help growers and store managers brush up on their basic storage checks, the BPC is producing a quick, no-nonsense guide to use when completing daily and weekly checks.
"We seldom visit a store where at least one golden rule is not being observed and for very little cost huge savings can be made in the long term," said Mr Cunnington. "Air leaking into to stores is a common fault and must not be ignored.
"Checking is easy. From inside a store if light can be seen around door casings and building eaves air is being let in. This leads to condensation and diseases like silver scurf or skin spot. Remedy this with draught-sealing brushes and cans of foam, usually for around just £200," he said.
Regular sampling is also crucial. "Installing a ladder to be able to collect samples from throughout a store could make the difference between success and failure. Sampling just the lower boxes isn't representative. Trouble could be brewing up above and may be made ten times worse if a sprout suppressant is applied when not required."
The secondary market for potatoes has all but disappeared, warns BPC knowledge transfer manager Dr Rob Clayton. "Buyers' specifications mean a crop either makes the grade or fails. The cost of failure is added to when you consider the increase in the landfill tax for disposing of waste.
"This time of year is traditionally when faults occur. Several factors are at work not least some growers and store managers can let their 'guard down' leading to inevitable storage losses. It only takes a matter of hours to reduce quality and erode premiums," said Clayton.
A BPC survey of store managers has also revealed a differing level of skill and understanding, explains Dr Clayton. "Of concern is that almost two-thirds of store managers surveyed did not know how much storage costs.
Just 15 per cent of responses matched the current best estimates for packing and processing crops."
The majority of storage advice (40 per cent) store managers receive is either through word of mouth or local experience while one in ten sought their advice through their supply chains. "This feedback strengthens the need for getting back to basics to reduce avoidable losses, which the BPC is uniquely placed to lead," added Clayton.
The survey also revealed that temperature was correctly consideredthe most important factor in store management and a third of respondents plan further investments in storage.
* To reserve your copy of the no-nonsense storage assessment guide, tel 01865 782222. For more information about storage assessment visit the
BPC's website www.potato.org.uk/storeguide or call SBEU's storage advice line, Tel 01406 351621.
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