Storage structures for horticultural crops: a review

Abstract

Most of the horticultural crops are seasonal, having a relatively short harvesting season, and most of them are highly perishable. Hence, proper storage of the horticultural crops using appropriate methods would prolong their availability. The present article gives details about various storage structures classified into two categories, i.e., traditional storage/low-cost storage technologies and improved methods/ modern methods /high-cost storage technologies. Traditional storage structures can be beneficial for farmers needing a small-scale storage system. These systems include in-situ storage, sand and coir, clamps, pits, cellars, ventilated storage, and evaporative cooling. On the other hand, modern methods include refrigerated storages like cold storages, environment-controlled storage (controlled atmospheric storage), modified atmosphere storage, and hypobaric storage. All the storage methods are equally important and can provide high revenue to the farmers and food industries.

Keywords

• Controlled atmosphere storage
• evaporative
• horticulture
• hypobaric
• modified atmospheric packaging
• storage