Controlled Atmosphere Storage of fresh horticultural produce

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Northern Territory (NT DAF) is inviting Territory growers to participate in the upcoming Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage trials. This initiative aims to explore the potential of CA technology to improve postharvest quality and shelf life of Territory-grown fruits and vegetables.

Background

Controlled atmosphere storage is a postharvest technology that regulates the levels of gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) to slow down respiration and ripening process in the horticultural produce. This storage method has been widely used in Australia and overseas to increase the storage life of the produce and enable long distance transport through sea freight. However, the responses to CA storage conditions can vary depending upon the produce type, pre and postharvest practices and level of harvest maturity.

Overview of the trial

NT DAF is offering growers the opportunity to have a sample of their freshly harvested produce stored under CA conditions in a controlled facility at Katherine Research Station. The produce will be monitored over time to assess quality including visual appearance, signs of disease/deterioration or any other observable changes over time. These trials will be exploratory in nature, to provide information on how different fruits and vegetable perform under CA storage conditions. Participation will be prioritised based on the order of expressions received and annual harvest window of fresh produce.

Participating growers will receive

• A summary of how your produce responded to CA storage conditions
• An opportunity to better understand how CA storage may apply to your produce in Northern Territory context

Who can participate

• Growers willing to supply a sample of freshly harvested produce for storage trials and contribute basic expenses towards consumables
• Open to share basic information about harvest timing and overall pre-harvest practices

How to participate

If you are interested, please contact us with details such as produce, variety, location, and other relevant information.

Email: jashan.kaur@nt.gov.au

Phone: 0476 012 923