Commercial carrot processors in the Midwest must rely on produce from the South and West during spring and early summer. The quality of these carrots is much poorer than the processors desire, and they must pay a premium price for the out-of-season produce. Their goal is to store locally grown, lower-cost carrots through winter and then use this produce in place of the more expensive carrots from the South and West. However, the longest time carrots can consistently be stored is still only five months. Therefore, the processors can store fall-harvested carrots only until March, suffering appreciable losses of 40 to 50% and significant degradation in quality due to spoilage. This proposal is concerned with the long-term storage (ten months) of carrots (Daucus carota). Advanced Seed Technology (AST) believes strongly that in-ground storage followed by refrigerated storage will result in a cost-effective method by which sweeter tasting. superior quality, locally grown carrots can be supplied to Midwest processors in the spring and summer when prices are at premium levels. Compared to our competitors, our Midwest-based operations will be able to take advantage of much lower storage and transportation costs.Applications:Our project will enhance the local agricultural economic viability, improve the quality of produce to the consumer, and establish a 4.3 to 5.7 million dollar company employing 70 to 80 people within the next six to seven years. This will make an important contribution to rural development in this area. A significant opportunity exists to apply this technology to other cool season crops such as parsnips, beets, leeks, and onions.
