PRINCIPLES OF POTATO STORAGE

This system enables the displacement of potatoes from the production area to the consumption area, thereby avoiding significant fluctuations in supply. The storage system is controlled by the demand for potatoes for human consumption, for seed tubers, and for processing. The storage of potatoes makes them available when needed, replacing the continuous production, which is virtually impossible in most countries. However, increasing and prolonging the production periods can reduce the need for storage. The storage facilities increase the cost of potato production, as stored potatoes are always more expensive than freshly harvested ones. The storage system can be compared to a dam used to control the flow of water and prevent damage from floods or droughts in a river system. The dam is designed to accumulate excess water during the rainy season and release it gradually during the dry season, when water needs are higher. By knowing how much water should be released from the dam and when, it is possible to regulate the water flow in the river to prevent floods and droughts. In most cases, a minimum flow of water is maintained throughout the year. The storage system absorbs the excess of potatoes during the new harvest for later consumption. Potatoes are removed from storage (depot, warehouse) to meet demand, whether during the planting or growing season. The analogy with the dam continues when storage is planned and controlled in such a way that at least a minimum supply of potatoes is available throughout the time. It is essential to store only the necessary amount of tubers to meet future consumption demands. Excessive use of the dam would result in over-supplies, low prices, and therefore, increased financial losses. When the storage system functions properly, it helps to regulate and stabilize the potato supply in the market, reducing peaks of over-supplies and depressions of scarcity. This, in turn, contributes to stabilizing and reducing excessive price fluctuations. Generally, a stable supply and price increase consumption. The information on the influence of over-supply or under-supply on prices and demand is of great importance to regulate the entry of freshly harvested potatoes into storage and their exit to the market. Detailed information on production systems, commercialization systems, and total demand and its variations is required to determine all storage schemes and to meet national or regional needs. The storage of potatoes for direct consumption or for seed must be an integral part of the total potato production process. The production-storage-demand trilogy is a multiple approach based on the production of potatoes being regulated by consumption. Many factors before the harvest affect the tubers after this. In the case of seed tubers, the factors that affect them after harvest are the storage conditions, the handling of the seed, and the planting conditions. The storage of potatoes is a critical component of the food supply chain, and its proper functioning is essential to ensure a stable supply of potatoes to meet consumer demand. The storage system must be planned and controlled to meet the future consumption demands, and the information on the influence of over-supply or under-supply on prices and demand is of great importance to regulate the entry of freshly harvested potatoes into storage and their exit to the market.