Microbial Quality of Water Used in Potato Packinghouse Operations
ID
FST-348P
This publicatuion is available in an enhanced digital version and PDF.
Postharvest handling of potatoes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESV) regularly includes the use of flumes, dump tanks, and spray washers. Water used in flumes and dump tanks is often re-circulated to conserve water and energy. Soil, plant matter, and disease-causing pathogens can potentially accumulate in water during bin dumping and flume recirculation. Contaminated water used in flumes and dump tanks may transmit diseases that decay the potato and adversely affect human health. Minimal published research exists on the microbial quality of water used in postharvest handling of potatoes. The lack of data on postharvest water in potato operations is largely a result of potatoes being classified as a low risk agricultural commodity for food safety, as they are typically not consumed raw.
Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law
Publication Date
October 15, 2019
