Effects of traditional storage practices of small-scale organic farmers on potato quality
2007
Katundu, M.G.C. | Hendriks, S.L. | Bower, J.P. | Siwela, M.
A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of traditional storage practices of small-scale organic farmers in rural KwaZulu-Natal on the quality of potatoes. Changes in sugar and starch content were monitored. A preference ranking test was used to investigate preference for organically produced potatoes left in situ, stored under ambient conditions in a farmer's house and under controlled conditions (7 °C and 90% relative humidity) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. The lowest and highest sugar levels were observed in potatoes stored in situ and under controlled conditions, respectively. Potatoes stored in situ were significantly preferred by sensory panellists (P < 0.05) over those stored in both the farmer's house and in controlled storage. Preference rank scores were negatively correlated to total sugar content and positively correlated to starch content although not all correlations were statistically significant. This gives an indication that other factors not investigated in this study, like glycoalkaloid content, may have contributed to the acceptability of potatoes from different modes of storage and requires further investigation. However, the study clearly shows that leaving potatoes in situ as a method of storage maintains desirable sensory properties of potatoes by maintaining low sugar levels and higher starch content.
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