In the UK, a new approach to preserving the fry colour of potatoes stored in ethylene-applied environments is now accessible. StoreGuard, a product by AgroFresh, employs 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to mitigate the alteration in fry colour observed in some potatoes designated for processing. This method is introduced early in the storage phase, preceding the application of ethylene, through soluble tablets activated in solution. It not only aids in retaining fry colour but also shields the produce from the adverse effects of ethylene exposure, such as reduced transpiration rates and weight loss.
Biofresh Safestore has recently acquired the marketing rights for StoreGuard in the UK, post-CRD approval in November 2023. The company highlights the compound's efficacy in sprout suppression and its role in maintaining the quality of certain potato varieties throughout storage, based on extensive trial data. According to Jeremy Barraclough of Biofresh Safestore, the combination of SafeGuard and the ethylene-based Safestore system leaves no detectable residue on the potatoes.
Simon Faulkner, an independent agronomist, emphasized the product's effectiveness in safeguarding processing potato quality, especially when used prior to ethylene application. The utilization of StoreGuard, alongside careful management of ethylene and carbon dioxide levels, has demonstrated significant benefits in maintaining the quality of processing potatoes during storage.
Source: britishpotato.co.uk