ISHS Acta Horticulturae 38: Symposium on Vegetable Storage
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF COMMON, REFRIGERATED AND HIGH TEMPERATURE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR BULB ONIONS IN THE U.K. |
| Author: | W.G. Tucker |
| Abstract:
The running costs of common, refrigerated and high temperature stores are presented (Table 1, see p. 584). Common storage is only viable for a maximum of 7 months in the U.K. whereas other storage methods may usefully be used until July when the autumn-sown crop can be available. As an alternative to refrigerated storage from harvest onwards, a cheaper system is also considered, comprising common storage until January when the bulbs are transferred to cold store until July. Although the running costs in the most expensive system are 4 times those of the least expensive, these differences make a minor impact on total storage costs and cumulative running costs (Figure 1, see p. 586) when in addition to growing, harvesting, drying, handling and rental costs, the impact of wastage (Table 2, see p. 585) on costs is considered (Figure 2, see p. 587). The average price obtained by home-grown bulbs on the market is seen to be close to the cumulative costs in the September to February period, allowing little room for further expenses, but thereafter a much safer margin exists. | |
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