Storing cultivars is necessary for a continued supply of this product. To maintain the potato quality, the climate in modern storage facilities is kept at a certain level. However, climate factors are not the only dependent variable for spud quality.

Postharvest storage is imperative since potatoes are a perishable commodity and tubers manifest active metabolisms when they are stored for a period. A continuous supply of potatoes over the year is made possible through storage. During cultivation and storage periods, the potato crop is susceptible to various pests and diseases, which cause crop losses, affect active tuber metabolisms, and threaten the tuber’s quality and value as a product.

Potato tubers are exposed to physical damages due to harvesting, handling, and transportation operations. The damages consist of wounds, bruises, and the removal of skin. Injured potatoes have increased respiration and evaporation. It is possible that the injured potatoes eventually will rot. The degree of quality loss is dependent on the storage conditions but will always be higher in damaged and diseased tubers than in healthy-looking tubers.

The huge potential losses caused by bruising are a clear incentive for growers and processors to monitor bruising, take preventive action and reduce those risks. If the solution is economical concerning the size of the losses, then it should be grasped with both hands, experts say.

Innovative Machinery to Prevent Potato Injury and ‘Healing’ Spuds

One solution to preventing tuber bruising is Martin Lishman’s electronic potato, the TuberLog. If this solution is used, the company’s engineers explained, regular bruising problems caused by poor machine maintenance or incorrect settings can be detected quickly before more damage takes place.

TuberLog is an impact sensor embedded in a synthetic shape that mimics the size, shape, density, and movement characteristics of a typical ‘ware-sized’ potato. It records impacts while moving with real potatoes during harvesting and processing and locates damage and bruise-causing parts of machinery. The impact records are transmitted instantly by Bluetooth so the operator can immediately locate the source and change machine settings to reduce impact levels and minimize bruising.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of Issue 4 of Potato Business Digital magazine, which you can access by clicking here.