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Storage operation . Since a storage operator can choose from 

 a long list of scrubbbing techniques, a common question is: Which 

 is best? Lime boxes are not used in many areas, partly because 

 they are considered to be a nuisance, but they are very effective. 

 We have been urging growers not to put lime in the storage because 

 it keeps the CO2 level so low that the CO2 is not providing its 

 maximum effect m delaying ripening of the fruit in storage. How- 

 ever, tests in New York showed no adverse effect on the fruit from 

 having lime in the room. This technique of course provides protec- 

 tion from CO^ injury, but you must consider that it displaces some 

 fruit. Dr. G.D. Blanpied, of Cornell University, compared data on 

 costs for various scrubbing systems. Water scrubbers are very effec- 

 tive, but corrosion of bearings, motors, and switches from the brine 

 raises operating costs. This can be avoided by having a separate 

 water scrubbing system, which costs more to install but which saves 

 money in the long run. Surprisingly, Dr. Blanpied' s analyses indi- 

 cated that in the long run the least expensive scrubbing system may 

 be the commercial scrubbing devices that use charcoal as CO2 adsorb- 

 ant. While they are expensive to purchase and install, their oper- 

 ating expenses are very small and they have a long operating "life." 



Another operation technique of considerable interest is the 

 possible use of high-C02 treatments at the beginning of CA storage. 

 This question will be considered in a separate article. 



Commodity responses to CA storage . In the U.S., about 38% of 

 the apple crop is stored in CA. In the Northeast, the percentage 

 is much higher than this and has probably reached its peak, but 



in the Southeast and Midwest the "growth areas" for CA storage 



of apples only a small percentage of the crop is stored in CA. 



The question we can now ask is, what about storing commodities 

 other than apples? In the West, many pears are stored in CA, but 

 in the East a greater susceptibility to CO^ injury almost rules out 

 CA storage of pears. Progress is being maae in developing techni- 

 ques for CA storage of peaches and nectarines, but there is no com- 

 mercial application yet. Sweet cherries may be stored in CA, but 

 there is little evidence that it is better than storage in air if 

 good temperature control is maintained (29-30°F is optimum). Avo- 

 cados are being successfully stored commercially in Florida, but 

 the potential for development is limited. Much effort has gone 

 into tests for CA storage of citrus, but without success. 



Vegetables are extensively transported in CA-equipped trucks 

 and vans. One of these systems ("Transfresh") ships 5 million 

 pounds of foodstuffs per week, mostly by truck, and another ("Sea- 

 land") is involved primarily in ocean transport. However, these 

 are short-term treatments aimed specifically at transportation 

 problems. Long-term storage of vegetables in CA has not proven fea- 

 sible. There is often interest in storing tomatoes in CA, but this 

 is very dangerous because tomatoes can easily be injured by a stor- 



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